For only $1/day any accommodation
on Siesta can partner with us and
get their guests a 50% discount!
JANUARY 2019 | 941.349.0194 | ISLAND VISITOR PUBLISHING, LLC | www.SiestaSand.net | COMPLIMENTARY

Making a Splash

CAPTAIN
DAWSON DAY

|The new style at the Siesta Key Beach Resort can be described as coastal modern with a Caribbean twist.
Expansive pool will be surrounded by palms.

Sarasota native Dawson Day says
he has been fishing since he could
walk

page

3

HISTORY
Did a meteor strike form
Point of Rocks?

page

20

105-FOOT PIER
Sarasota County Commission
unanimously approved the
105-foot-extenstion of a fishing
pier at Siesta Key property on the
southern part of Midnight Pass
Road

page

9

VOLUNTEERING
Many Landings residents have
chosen to put volunteer energies
into tutoring children

page

13

LIGHTING
CONTEST
The annual contest began, condos
entered in groups, Volunteers
and staffers rushed to work,
all jumping through hoops.
Next came the pine boughs and
decorative holly to be viewed
by the judges aboard the Siesta
Trolley

page

14

SIESTA SOUNDS

A ribbon cutting party. The
event is scheduled to be held on
Wednesday, January 9, from 5 to 7
p.m., and yes, Chris Connolly will
be the featured entertainer for this
early evening group event

page

By Roger Drouin

24

After yards of stucco repairs, piles of new shell-stone pavers,
more than 50 large palm and coconut trees, large chickee hut
and umbrellas, and four months of renovation work, the Siesta
Key Beach Resort & Spa, Tiki & Pool is slated to re-open this
January.
The nearly 60-room resort was already turning heads
as major construction work wrapped up the week before
Christmas. What had been a conglomerate of mid-century,
and deteriorating buildings, is now an updated resort — all
painted clean white with cypress soffits — centered around
a brand-new, resort style pool-and-spa oasis. The biggest
addition besides the new pool: the large chickee hut visible
from Ocean Boulevard.
“I’m getting a lot of calls,” [from local business owners] says
Mike Holderness, who purchased the resort back in May, 2017.
“People are driving by and saying what’s going on!”
Once people go on the property to see the pool area, “they
are blown away,” he adds.
The giant chickee hut — at just under 30 feet tall — was
built with Everglades cypress, by Seminole Indians, and is
attached to the main building fronting Ocean Boulevard.
Continued on page 35

As incoming County Commission Chair, Hines makes
clear intent to focus on traffic improvements involving
U.S. 41/Stickney Point Road intersection By Rachel Brown Hackney
As he prepares to take on the role of chair in
2019, Sarasota County Commissioner Charles
Hines has signaled his intention to put the
focus on improvements to the intersection of
U.S. 41 and Stickney Point Road.
During the day-long, Dec. 12 public hearing
on the Siesta Promenade mixed-use project —
which is planned for the northwest quadrant
of that intersection — Hines at one point said
to Todd Mathes, director of development for
Benderson Development, “If you don’t build
anything, the evidence is absolutely clear: That
intersection is a disaster.”

Hines added, “It truly is a public safety
problem,” especially because of the fact that
the Stickney Point Road drawbridge can open
as often as twice an hour and the four lanes
on Stickney Point Road drop to two lanes on
Midnight Pass Road on Siesta Key.
On Dec. 13, the day after the commissioners
approved Siesta Promenade on split votes,
Hines sent an email to Paula Wiggins, manager
of the county’s Transportation Planning
Division; County Administrator Jonathan
Lewis; and Spencer Anderson, director of the
county’s Public Works Department.

“Considering the results of yesterday’s
hearing and the discussion in regards to U.S.
41 and Stickney Point Road,” he wrote, “I really
believe it would be worthwhile if we have a
serious discussion in regards to our strategy
and plans in regards to this congested area.
Much like we did, with great success, with
River Road and the diverging diamond, if we
all believe and know that this is an area that’s
only going to get worse over the next few years,
we need to have a real strategy and plan to
address it.”
Continued on page 23

Siesta Promenade wins approval as designed By Rachel Brown Hackney
Publishers note: Since many of the other publications have reported the passage of the vote to approve the project,
Siesta Sand thought it worthwhile to read the county commissioners’ conversations of the day.
Following the vote, Sura Kochman,
representative for the Pine Shores
neighborhood, sent an email to Siesta Sand.
Her statement is as follows:
“It is mind-boggling that the BCC ignored our
expert testimony regarding the deficiencies in the
application, studies required by the Scope of Work
that weren’t performed and Comprehensive Plan
policies and objectives that Siesta Promenade did
not follow.
The testimony of 8 organizations, representing
thousands of people, in addition to the heartfelt

comments by residents of Sarasota was ignored.
The lack of discussion on the issues raised and
the comment that if they did carry the decision to
another meeting, they would have to sit through
more public comment (even though County
Attorney Roddy advised them that would not be
the case) was shameful.
There was no need to handle this in a rushed
manner. Seeing the confusion of the Commissioners
on what they were voting on and lack of clear
direction was highly irregular. We were obviously
naive in our hopes that campaign contributions

made by Benderson to the Commissioners’
campaigns would not influence their votes.”
With Chair, Nancy Detert in the minority
on all but one of the six votes on Dec. 12,
the Sarasota County Commission approved
Benderson Development’s plans for 414
condominiums/apartments, a 130-room hotel,
133,000 feet of commercial space and 7,000 feet
of office space on approximately 24 acres at the
intersection of U.S. 41 and Stickney Point Road.
Continued on page 7

SERVING SIESTA KEY AND SARASOTA
FOR OVER 60 YEARS AND LOOKING FORWARD
TO THE NEXT 60 YEARS

SIESTA KEY VILLAGE
5124 Ocean Blvd.
349-1111

SOUTHBRIDGE MALL
6595 Midnight Pass Rd.
349-4343

www.DavidsonDrugs.com

MIDTOWN PLAZA
1281 S. Tamiami Trail
365-9116

www.siestasand.net

941.349.0194

JANUARY 2019

Island Visitor Publishing, LLC

Captain Dawson Day, of CATCH Sarasota Fishing Charters
Sarasota native Dawson Day says
he has been fishing since he could
walk.
The son of Siesta Key Fitness Center
owner Bruce Day, he may have
grown up in a gym, but his heart
was always on the water. That’s why,
when he got his Captains’ License at
the age of 18, he immediately began
working for a fishing charter boat
company. After four years, he was
ready to start his own business.
In November, he founded CATCH
Sarasota Fishing Charters.
“When I was working for the
other company, I ran boats of all
different sizes, both inshore and
offshore,” he said. “A lot of what I
do is also ‘Captain for Hire,’ for other
people’s boats, when they want to
hire someone with experience.”
Day already had the knowledge
of the business and the license, he
just needed to buy his own boat. He
found the perfect vessel in a beautiful
22’ Pathfinder Tournament Edition,
with a powerful 225 horsepower,
Yamaha 4-stroke motor. Equipped
with a Power Pole, Trolling Motor,
Jack Plate, and T-Top.
Though he can legally fit up to
six passengers on his new charter
fishing boat, Day says it is a more
comfortable trip with four. He
provides all of his customers with
top-of-the-line fishing gear, from St.
Croix Rods to Shimano Reels, and, of
course, his expertise.
“The nice thing about going fishing
with me, is you step on the boat, you
go fishing and you step off the boat.”
What that means is that after
passengers meet Captain Day at Bay
Island Park or the 10th Street Boat
Ramp, their “work” for the day is
done. He will take them out from
four to eight hours on his boat, to all
of the most rewarding fishing spots
in the area. CATCH provides a cooler
full of cold drinks and all the bait and
gear needed for the day.
Best of all, the conclusion of the trip
will be worry-free.

“It’s my job to make sure we have
all the tools necessary for you to have
a productive day of fishing.”
Day’s first child was born
in September, and he says that
momentous occasion inspired him
to venture out on his own with his
fishing business. Having always
had a soft spot for children, he says
he finds his experiences out on the
water with them some of the most
rewarding.
“I especially like to take kids out
fishing,” Day said. “Seeing them
catch the ‘fish of a lifetime’ and smile
and have a good time is what it’s all
about.”
Day especially enjoys imparting his
knowledge of fishing the area waters
with people he takes out on his boat,
and says he continues to learn every
day, each time he puts his boat in the
water.
Day said that eventually, he plans
to perhaps add a few more boats and
build a CATCH fleet, but for now, he
is more than happy with what he has.
For Day, taking as many people as
possible out fishing and making sure
they catch a lot of fish and have fun
is as good as it gets.
“Growing up, I always had the
thought of owning my own business,”
he said. “I decided a long time ago
that I wanted to do something that
just made me happy.”
CATCH Sarasota Fishing Charters
rates are as follows: $110/hour for 4
to 6 hours and $100/hour for 8 hours.
Included in the price are: water,
cooler w/ice, fishing license, tackle
and bait, first aid kit and safety gear,
as well as fish cleaning and bagging
at the end of the trip. Recommended
to bring: hats, sunscreen, sunglasses,
food/snacks. *Seasonal Tarpon trips
and fly fishing trips are also available,
call for pricing.
For more information, or
to book a charter with Captain
Dawson Day, visit the website at
www.catchsarasota.com or call
941-586-0204.

By Debbie Flessner

Dawson Day has years of charter fishing experience, but recently started his own company,
CATCH Sarasota Fishing Charters.

On Dec. 12, as the Sarasota County commissioners
were taking their votes on the Siesta Promenade
project, the issue of the proposed closure of the
median at the intersection of Avenue A and
Stickney Point Road also arose. That proposal
was one of several included in reports from the
Kimley-Horn and Associates consulting firm, which
worked with Benderson Development Co. on Siesta
Promenade.
Commissioner Alan Maio referred to earlier
testimony that day by the Benderson representatives.
“The applicant has no intention to change the access
turn movements in the median for Avenue A.”
Therefore, Maio proposed including that as a
stipulation in the motion to approve the Critical
Area Plan for the project.
“I understood it as an expression of intent,”
Deputy County Attorney Alan Roddy responded.
“It’s a matter of intent,” Maio said, as the
Benderson representatives, with — as Maio noted
— cameras running to record the meeting for
county records, told the board “they’re not touching
Avenue A.”
Roddy suggested that the Avenue A matter
be part of the rezoning motion for the project.
However, he also advised the board first to allow
more testimony from Paula Wiggins, the county’s
Transportation Planning Division manager.
“My only concern,” Wiggins said, “is that

Avenue A is a known area of crashes,” and it
has been studied by the Florida Department of
Transportation. “The applicant is not proposing to
do anything with that intersection.”
Yet, she told the board, she did not feel the Avenue
A issue should be included as a stipulation in the
rezoning motion. After the conclusion of a planned
“road swap” with FDOT in coming months, when
the county will assume authority over Stickney
Point Road, she continued, if crashes continue
to occur at Avenue A, “and we don’t correct the
deficiencies there, we would be liable for anything
that happens there, knowing that there is an existing
problem.”
“Now you’ve got that all in the record,” Maio told
her.
Business owners and residents south of Stickney
Point Road have demanded in emails to the
commissioners that the median not be closed, he
continued, because it would compromise access
to their property. He then suggested that staff not
take any future action regarding Avenue A without
discussing it with the commissioners.
Commissioner Moran agreed.
“Staff recognizes that there is a significant issue
… for those businesses and residents on the south
part of Stickney Point,” Wiggins responded, adding
that staff would come back to the board with any
proposals for changes.

Basic democratic principles are at risk when a 70%
majority vote gets challenged by the very government
whose actions were rebuked by that vote. On November
27th, about forty citizens attended a County Commission
meeting to voice concerns regarding this very issue
during Agenda Item #1, which is “Open to the Public.”
We asked the commissioners why they were spending
our tax dollars paying the County Attorney to pursue
meritless claims against the RBR sponsored amendments
which we had voted for and passed by an overwhelming
majority. We want Beach Road rebuilt and we want it
to remain public. We also want to protect our parks,
preserves, beach and water accesses from being given
away or sold by our government; we said so with our
votes in support of the amendments.
During public comment, Commission Chair Nancy
Detert said, “We hear you and we’re implementing it.
I mean, it’s a government process. Nobody’s shuffling
it under the carpet or trying to undermine anything...”
Well, that’s interesting because the County has two
current lawsuits which seek to have the election results
thrown out. Let’s assume Chair Detert wasn’t being
dishonest. Is it any more acceptable that the chairperson
of our County Commission is unaware her employee,
the County Attorney, is actively seeking to subvert the
voters’ will through these lawsuits?
I ran into Commissioner Hines at lunch later that
same day. He agreed we should “settle this thing,” and
suggested I have former commissioner Jon Thaxton
help negotiate on behalf of Reopen Beach Road. It took
three weeks to get a one hour meeting, Mr. Thaxton
wasn’t allowed to attend, and the County Attorney was
“unaware” of our ‘proposed framework for settlement.’
I found this shocking because we sent him, and each
commissioner, our ‘proposed framework for settlement’
FOUR MONTHS prior, on 8/17/18. Their inattention
makes their half-hearted efforts seem disingenuous; I
hope I’m mistaken about that.
The “proposed framework for settlement” is a public
record through which we offered to allow the developers
to keep their illegally obtained development rights
in exchange for their unbuildable, partly submerged
beach lots, the combined appraised value of which
is under $10k... Also, the County has to follow the
recommendations provided by Taylor Engineering in
their 2013 report and rebuild Beach Road with sidewalks
and a bike lane. This will allow us once again to enjoy
Siesta Key’s only unobstructed Gulf-view drive, bike,
rollerblade, skate, etc. Contrary to the county’s inaccurate
claims, none of these uses currently exist.
Our offer seems reasonable to us. The developers get
their extra ‘units.’ The public gets its road back, federally
mandated ADA compliance for our elderly and mobilityimpaired citizens, and unfettered use of the beach. As
for me, I get to go back to remodeling houses, boating,
and fishing. Frankly, this has been exhausting and I’m
looking forward to getting my life back.
Let’s hope the county follows through and embraces
the will of the voters. Thank you to the publishers of this
paper for the opportunity to educate its readers, to all of
our Reopen Beach Road volunteers and supporters, and
to Commissioner Hines for his efforts to get this mess
straightened out. Happy New Year!!!
Mike Cosentino
President, Reopen Beach Road, Inc

On Dec. 12th, the County Commission demonstrated
that the “will of the people” is no match for the will
of developers. Thank you Commissioners Detert
and Hines for hearing the pleas of the people and
voting against the Benderson proposal. It is tragic the
Commission lost what may well be the last chance to
save a neighborhood and have a positive impact on the
already traffic saturated Stickney Point/US 41 corner
that leads to Siesta Key.
Our membership representing over 90 Condominiums
and 7,000 doors on Siesta Key made their opposition to
this project known in our recent membership survey.
A SKCC representative made this known to the
Commissioners by speaking at the meeting with the
theme of “serving the will of the people”
Traffic jams and long waits to get on the key are the
norm. Health and safety of residents and visitors are at
risk as emergency vehicles struggle to negotiate traffic.
The Commissioners voting outcome made no attempt
to alleviate these conditions and in fact added to the
already bad situation.
Siesta Key Condominium Council Board

Happiness is…Celebrating a New Year
New Year, New You. Ever heard that
saying before? Well, after more than seven
marvelous and fun years of serving the
Siesta Key/Sarasota area, the folks at Abel’s
Ice Cream are taking that theme to heart.
“We are known for our clean and friendly
environment so we wanted to keep things
fresh with a fun store makeover. We’ve
also added some great new local offerings
to our menu,” said Jerry Williams, Abel’s
owner.
“For quite some time, we’ve enjoyed
Lelu’s amazing coffee out on Siesta Key.
So for us, it was an easy decision to begin
serving their coffee ourselves,” he added. “It’s been a
huge hit.”
But Lelu’s isn’t the only fun menu addition. Jerry was
also excited to share another local sweet treat.
“Every time we go to St. Armand’s Circle for dinner,
we have to stop at Tropical Shores Popcorn! They have
incredible gourmet popcorn and we’re proud and
excited to be able to share that deliciousness in our
store.” Abel’s is featuring some of their most popular
flavors, including Tuxedo (classic caramel popcorn
drizzled with dark chocolate and white chocolate) and
Cheesy Cheddar (cheddar cheese melted over freshly
popped popcorn). “We have grab and go bags which
work great as a beach day or movie night treat.”
Of course, you don’t need a new reason to visit
Abel’s. They still have the same local Florida ice cream,
voted #1 on Trip Advisor for 5 straight years, In fact,
Abel’s is now in the Trip Advisor Hall of Fame. And if

www.siestasand.net

you’re not quite ready to say goodbye to the holiday
season, for a limited time you can still taste it at Abel’s
with their delicious Peppermint (Refreshing and vibrant
Peppermint ice cream filled with peppermint candy) and for
our friends from the Northeast, Cinnamon (Great on its
own or the perfect topping for any dessert!)
Stop by and celebrate the New Year with your friends
at Abel’s. Abel’s Ice Cream is located at 1886 Stickney
Point Road, Sarasota, in the South Bridge Plaza. Open
Sunday through Thursday from Noon – 9:30 p.m. Friday
and Saturday from Noon – 10 p.m. Learn more online
at www.abelsicecream.com or connect with them on
Facebook and Instagram.

Awarded their
Certificate of Excellence
for FIVE years straight!

Siesta Promenade County
Commissioners decision
At its hearing on December 12, the County Commission
approved the Siesta Promenade application without
significant modification. The hearing room was at
capacity and the overflow room had to be opened.
The comment portion lasted from 9am to after 5pm
and the Commission discussion was over an hour.
Over 100 signed speaker cards and approximately 75
remained to testify. Of the total number of speakers,
only 5-7 supported the application and they were
all associated with building and/or development
organizations.
In the Commissions hour plus discussion many of
the concerns/objections were considered and two were
discussed with the applicant. One was to increase the
amount of affordable housing and the other was to
reduce the building heights. The applicant would not
consent to either.
Because of the complexity of the project, it had to be
addressed in five separate motions. Four motions were
approved on a 4-1 vote with the Chair Nancy Detert
being the dissenting vote on each motion and the fifth
motion was approved 5-0. Virtually no amendments
to the application were proposed!
When the voting was completed, Chairperson Detert
gave an epilog lamenting the fact that she joined the
Commission when consideration of the project was
already under consideration. She expressed a limited
ability to influence the result and stated that many
important issues were raised by the citizens which need
to be addressed by the county.
The angry and dejected participants departed in
shock and silence.
To think that over 1000 letters were sent to
commissioners, more than 1800 petitions were
presented and about 75 individuals testified before the
commission, but that governmental body did not find
even one suggestion actionable!
Larry Lawrence
The Landings

www.siestasand.net

941.349.0194

Siesta Promenade

JANUARY 2019

Island Visitor Publishing, LLC

7

Continued from cover story

The only facet of the project Detert approved was a street
vacation involving Brentwood Avenue and Crestwood
Avenue, so Benderson can realign Crestwood as one of the
access points to the mixed-use project.
Commissioner Charles Hines joined Detert in opposing
the company’s request for a Critical Area Plan (CAP)
designation for the project, so it could exceed the standard
restriction of 13 dwelling units per acre on land zoned
Commercial General. The CAP approval allows up to 25
units per acre, though Benderson’s proposal would achieve
a density of about 20.5 units per acre.
In response to the testimony of dozens of members of
the public about the exacerbation of traffic congestion
they expect at the intersection, Hines stressed the board’s
responsibility to address those issues.
“We must make this intersection as important as we
did with the Diverging Diamond three years ago,” he
said, referring to the structure the Florida Department of
Transportation (FDOT) built to ameliorate congestion issues
involving the University Parkway access from Interstate-75.
That project was put on a fast track so it would be completed
prior to the 2017 World Rowing Championships, which
were held in late September 2017 at Nathan Benderson
Park, near University Parkway.
“This falls on us,” Hines added of the need to mitigate
the U.S. 41/Stickney Point Road problems.
“It behooves us to give it more attention,” Detert agreed.
In explaining her “No” votes, Detert referred to Pine
Shores Estates, which is the community of single-family
homes adjacent to the Siesta Promenade site. “If we’re
going to impact an existing neighborhood in any kind of
a negative way,” she said, then the commissioners could
not forget about those residents, who had invested in their
homes. A house, Detert continued, is typically the biggest
investment a person will make. “There should be some
benefit to doing that to people,” she said of allowing Siesta
Promenade to be constructed next to Pine Shores.
Yet, she told Todd Mathes, director of development
for Benderson Development, the applicant for Siesta
Promenade, “I’m not seeing anything that you’re bringing
to the table that we don’t already have.” She cited the nearby
Best Western Plus Siesta Key Gateway Hotel, restaurants
and shops.
Detert added, “I would be really happy if you put in, like
an upscale resort. I don’t think you’re taking advantage of
the fact that your piece of property is so close to the beach.”
If the company built a resort, she pointed out, it then could
use a trolley to transport guests back and forth to the beach.

“I just don’t see anything new about
the project, and I see a lot of downside.”
“We’ve been melding this project
in response to community concern,”
Mathes replied. “While we have not
made everyone happy, and I don’t think
we ever would have made everyone
happy. I think what we did was put
a project forward that works.” The
140,000 square feet “is smaller than
every other center up and down U.S.
41. It’s meant for the neighborhood …”
Hines objected to the fact that
residential structures as tall as 65
feet would be in close proximity to
single-family homes in the Pine Shores
Estates. At various points during the
approximately seven-hour-long public
hearing, he talked of his struggles with
accepting the design of the project,
saying he felt the higher residential
buildings should be on the eastern side
of the site, next to U.S. 41.
Commissioner Michael Moran made all six motions
to approve the project. Commissioners Alan Maio and
Christian Ziegler joined him in support of all the Benderson
requests for the design.
Maio did win concessions from Mathes that Maio
indicated would make it less attractive for drivers to cut
through Pine Shores Estates to avoid traffic congestion on
U.S. 41 and Stickney Point Road.
Additionally, Mathes proffered that the company would
make all of the 25 affordable housing units, required under
county regulations for a CAP project, to be rental units.
Mathes also said that the company would build those first.
Maio further urged Mathes to make the affordable
housing units 750 square feet or smaller, as a new county
ordinance will be going into effect soon to give developers
incentives for what staff has characterized as “half dwelling
units.”
Maio referenced several young people during the hearing
that day, who talked of their support for Siesta Promenade
in the context of more affordable housing in the community.
Maio said the apartments of 750 square feet or less would
be homes those speakers “would kill for …”
However, Maio did stress, “Nobody’s getting any
increased density” if Benderson agrees to his request. The
county Zoning Code specifies that one dwelling unit can

range from 500 square feet to 12,000 square feet, he pointed
out.
“Understood,” Mathes replied.
In making the motions to approve the various aspects
of the project, Moran said of the property, “This is zoned
for a full-service gas station — Wawa type — hundreds,
hundreds of mobile homes, significant office space… I
simply feel that we can do better than that.”
Moran added, “What we do encourage is compact, mixeduse infill projects that can … use our infrastructure that’s
already in place.”
Moreover, Moran said, “I don’t think you can ignore
the applicant that’s before us on this today.” Benderson
Development is not some speculative builder from another
part of the country, Moran continued. “This is a proven
developer that has brought projects into our community
that have improved our quality of life.”
Hines concurred that Siesta Promenade is an example of
urban redevelopment. People have urged the commissioners
not to approve projects that would lead to “urban sprawl,”
he continued. They have told the board they favor
redevelopment in the urban core. “What that means,”
Hines pointed out, “is land costs are higher. Neighborhoods
already exist. You’re going to have those negative
impacts.”

Siesta Key Oyster Bar, or “SKOB” as the locals call it,
is the hangout with the laid-back, beachy atmosphere
that will get you right into the Island Spirit.
One of the things that set SKOB apart from the other
restaurants in Siesta Key Village is that we have
some of the best food on the Key.

Live Music
Every Day and Night

Drivers on Higel Avenue recently
wondered what was going on as they
waited on workers to give them the goahead to proceed in single-lane traffic.
We have an answer.
Spencer Anderson, Public Works
Department director for Sarasota
County, reported that the Florida
Department of Transportation (FDOT)
has been “performing subsurface utility
exploration (SUE)” to support the design
of a drainage project.
In the summer of 2017, FDOT reported
that it was working on a project to
alleviate drainage problems in the
basin along part of Higel Avenue. “The
property at 4013 Higel Ave. is the low
point of the local basin,” an FDOT study
said. “Flooding occurs along the SR [State
Road] 758 corridor and eventually enters
a 15-inch cross drain under SR 758 and
outfalls to the existing outfall ditch,” the
study pointed out.
That ditch is located north and
northeast of 4013 Higel Ave.; it is within
the private property of 3975 Shell Road,
the study added. The outfall is to Coconut
Bayou. However, the study noted, “The
outfall ditch is overgrown with sediment
and vegetation from Higel Avenue to
Coconut Bayou.”
The study was prepared by Sergio
Figueroa, an engineer for FDOT’s District
One, which includes Sarasota County.
FDOT “will construct a closed storm
sewer system along the west side of SR 758 from
Little Pond Lane to Somerset Drive and continue the
storm sewer system east directly to the existing outfall,
Coconut Bayou,” Zachary Burch, government affairs
& communications manager for FDOT, reported in
mid-August 2017. “The proposed improvements will
alleviate flooding issues along SR 758 and adjacent
properties,” he added.
The work was funded for the 2018/19 fiscal year,
Burch noted. FDOT’s fiscal year begins July 1; the
county’s starts on Oct. 1.

The funding for design and right of way acquisition
is listed at $785,066 in FDOT’s Tentative Five Year
Work Program for 2019/2023. The construction, at
a total of $1,323,720, is listed for the 2020/2021 fiscal
year.
Of the latter amount, $1,291,290 will be from revenue
dedicated to District One projects, according to FDOT.
The rest will come from funding allocated for “State
In-House Project Support” (DIH).
The project length — 0.11 miles — is the distance
from Little Pond Lane to Somerset Drive, the listing
noted.

Daily Drink Specials

Your Go-To Store on the Island
Morton’s Siesta Market is your one-stop shop for easy island living.
We offer a large selection of staple groceries, beer and wine, as well
as fresh produce, meats and seafood.
In keeping with our Morton’s tradition, we also carry a delicious array
of prepared foods, perfect for take-out, picnics, parties and more.

County Commission approves 105-foot pier extension on
Little Sarasota Bay By Rachel Brown Hackney
After listening to an explanation about the
need for it, the Sarasota County Commission
unanimously approved the 105-footextenstion of a fishing pier at Siesta Key
property on the southern part of Midnight
Pass Road.
The applicant, Justyna Clipper, had sought
a Water and Navigation Control Authority
(WNCA) Major Work Permit not only to
lengthen the pier but also to add a 12-foot
by 24-foot mooring area for a 24-foot-long
vessel, a boat lift and a new kayak lift.
The structure will be shared by two parcels
Clipper owns on Little Sarasota Bay, Chance
Steed, a county environmental specialist,
told the commissioners on Nov. 27.
As Clipper’s representative in the hearing,
William Merrill III, a partner with the
Sarasota firm of Icard Merrill, explained to
the board members that the extension of
the pier and the new dock are necessary to
enable a vessel to navigate in deeper water
to reach the channel in the bay, which is part
of the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW).
The approximate average length of several
neighboring boat docks, he noted, is 161 feet.
If a vessel is not able to launch in deeper
water, Merrill said, “you’ll be churning up
bay bottom, which you don’t want to do.”
He showed the commissioners slides to
illustrate his remarks.
“We’re really just seeking equal access
to the water shared by the neighboring
properties,” Steve Rees, another Icard
Merrill attorney representing Clipper,
explained to the commissioners.
The maximum boat draft allowed by the
permit would be 30 inches, Rees added.
“Just seeing the size of the docks is startling
to an average person,” Chair Nancy Detert
told Merrill. His photos made it clear why
the longer dock is necessary, she added. “We
all understand the danger of boats digging
up silt as they come in and out, [which is]
not helping the environment.”
An existing dock to the north is about 52

feet away from the existing 44-foot-long
structure at Clipper’s property, Steed noted,
while a dock to the south is 40 feet away.
The fishing pier, he told the board, is
the largest structure staff can approve on
an administrative basis. That was why
Clipper had to apply for the permit. (The
commission also serves as the Water
and Navigation Control Authority in the
county.)
The dock to the north of Clipper’s property
is 104 feet long, Merrill said, while the one
to the south is 205 feet.
Adjoining property owners have been
opposed to the project, Steed noted.
County staff found that the construction
was likely to have no negative effect, he said.
Minimal seagrass damage will result from
the installation of pilings, Merrill said, but
Clipper will undertake seagrass mitigation.
A Nov. 27 county staff memo said that the
mitigation “will consist of maintaining the
natural beach habitat and tidal wrack line
in its natural state and keeping nuisance
and invasive plants out of the area and the
adjacent uplands.”
“The shoreline is vegetated with
mangroves almost entirely, and it is in good
condition,” Steed pointed out.
Merrill also told the board that Clipper
already had received the necessary permits
from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and
the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection (FDEP) for the project.

Protest and rebuttal
Amy Stipancich, who lives at 7321
Midnight Pass Road, to the north of Clipper’s
property, was the only speaker during the
hearing to protest the plans.
Stipancich cited sections of the County
Code involving WNCA regulations, saying
the extended dock would have a detrimental
effect on the navigational ability of other boat
owners in the area of Clipper’s property.

Vessels trying to move away from and
toward the docks to the north and south
would have “limited and/or restricted
access,” Stepancich told the board.
Additionally, she said, Clipper’s use of the
new dock would lead to limitations on the
size of vessels the neighbors could use in the
ICW.
In response to that concern, Rees of Icard
Merrill pointed to a finding in the county
staff memo: “Given the configuration of the
proposed dock facility and its intended use,
there are no long-term adverse navigational
impacts anticipated from this project.”
Offering yet another point of opposition,
Stipancich told the board, “My views toward
the south are already impaired” by Clipper’s
fishing pier. An extended dock would
exacerbate that situation, Stepancich added.
Moreover, Stipancich said of Clipper, “She
is a developer.” Six months after Clipper
failed in 2016 to win county approval to
construct three homes on the 2-acre site
“to form a neighborhood,” Stipancich
continued, Clipper began working on the
plans for the longer dock.

The combined square footage of the two
parcels that will share the dock is 85,436.
One acre is 43,560 square feet. Each of
Clipper’s parcels in the affected area is
zoned Residential Estate, which allows only
one dwelling unit per acre, the Sarasota
County Property Office records note.
Stipancich told the commissioners that
she is worried about whether Clipper will
end up selling the two parcels together. If
Clipper found separate buyers for them,
Stepancich added, then the possibility might
arise for more than one vessel to use the new
dock, “turning it into a boat marina.”
Such a situation, Stipancich said, would
lead to the visual “blocking of the aesthetics
of the waterscape.”
Finally, she voiced worry that Clipper
would seek “further enhancements down
the road.”
In response to the last comment, Kristy
Tignor, a professional engineer with The
Tignor Group in Sarasota — who explained
that she had designed the new dock —
pointed out that it was the maximum size
FDEP “would ever allow” on the site.

Siesta Key Marina
Full Service Marina
& Water Sports

Fishing Charters

Fun Boat Tours

BEACH - SANDBAR AND ADVENTURE TRIPS

INSHORE & OFFSHORE FISHING
SCUBA & SNORKLE TRIPS

Sunset
& Dolphin Cruises

Sandbar Excursions

Boat Rentals
PONTOONS
FISHING BOATS
DECK BOATS

Adventure trips

“FUN BOAT” IS A CUSTOM 40’
ADVENTURE BOAT BUILT FOR FUN IN
THE SUN. WE BRING PADDLE BOARDS,
BEACH GAMES, MUSIC AND R
R EFRESHMENTS ON BOARD.

1265 OLD STICKNEY POINT ROAD - SIESTA KEY

941-349-1970 -

www.skmar ina.com

Call Today or Book Your Adventures Online

9

local c a u g h t s e a f o o d
island bites
craft beers
located @ siesta key marina
come by land or by water

10

Siesta Sand

JANUARY 2019

Sheriff’s Report

941.349.0194

www.siestasand.net

November 20 - December 17, 2018

There were a total of 7 crimes reported on the Key between 11/20-12/17/18
11/20/18 Burglary Residential
1000 Block Portofino Dr.
A woman reported nearly
$20,400 worth of fine jewelry
was stolen from her home. She
explained she had returned to
her condo from up north to find
water on her kitchen counter. The
condo was secure and there were
no signs of forced entry. A half
bottle of wine and three partially
empty bottles of cranberry juice
were present. These items were not
there when she went back up north
last summer. She advised she had
unpacked and placed her two bags
of Jewelry on the bedroom counter
when she returned on 11/15. On
11/19, the woman reported the
jewelry was missing. She at first
thought she had misplaced the
jewelry, but after searching for
a day, called law enforcement.
No signs of forced entry were
present; no other areas of the
condo appeared disturbed. The
bottles had been disposed of and
fingerprints could not be taken
from door handles due to lack
of surfaces handled. The condo
management team could not be
reached at the time and the victim
was advised to change the locks
and consider an interior camera
system.
11/20/18 Battery Domestic
Address Not Disclosed
A woman reported her exhusband came to her home late at
night and asked for money. The
discussion was held in a sunroom
while sitting on a sofa. When the
woman refused to give the money
the defendant became upset and
threatened to burn the victim’s
sofa. The defendant proceeded
to put a lit cigarette onto the sofa
cushion and burned a hole in it.
(Estimated cost to repair $500)
The victim called the defendant’s
family to come get him but they
refused. The defendant was upset
and became physical and grabbed
the woman’s wrists and upper
arms leaving bruises. He also
struck her with an elbow to chest
causing a bruise before leaving the
area. The woman’s injuries were
photographed. She stated that the
defendant has a drug problem and
that she is concerned for her safety.

11/24/18 Grand Theft
5000 Block Windward Ave.
A kayak valued at approximately
$800 was stolen overnight from a
residential dock. The kayak, which
was not locked up to anything
when it was taken, was a 10foot, green plastic, sit-inside, Sun
Dolphin “Aruba.”
11/26/18 Grand Theft
1200 Block Old Stickney Pt. Rd.
A man reported his ring was
stolen. He was out to dinner when
he went into the bathroom. Before
he washed his hands, he took his
ring off and laid it on the counter.
He exited the bathroom and shortly
after, realized he did not have his
ring. He returned to the bathroom
and it was gone. Employees of the
restaurant said no one found or
turned in the ring. The gold, thick
men’s ring, with small diamonds
was valued at approximately
$3000.
12/2/18 Battery :Officer
Firefighter EMT
5300 Block Ocean Blvd.
An officer was on routine patrol
in front of a Village nightclub when
he was approached by an Uber
driver who stated that a man was
passed out on the sidewalk across
the street. The deputy located the
man passed out on the sidewalk. As
he approached the man, he noticed
his business card lying on the floor
next to him. It stated he was a Staff
Sargent in the US Air Force. The
deputy woke the man and asked
if he could call him a cab and get
him a ride home and the man
spit on the deputy. When asked
if he knew who he was, the Staff

sergeant replied, ”Yea, I see you’re
a cop.” The deputy reiterated
that he was there to help him and
offered him a cab. At that time the
defendant reached up and put the
deputy in a headlock and hit him
once in the face. The deputy pulled
out his Taser and discharged it,
striking the defendant. Paramedics
responded to the scene, removed
the prongs and medically cleared
the defendant. The defendant was
placed under arrest. It was noted
that the defendant smelled of
alcohol, had slurred speech could
barely stand without the assistance
of deputies.
12/5/18 Identity Theft
800 Block Idlewild Way
A woman filed an identity theft
report at the headquarters desk. As
a result of a credit report check,
she discovered credit inquiries
from Credit One Bank, Three
inquiries from Cap One NA and
SYNCB/Wal-Mart, none of which
were generated by her. Unknown
suspects used her personal
information to create the credit
checks.
12/6/18 Theft
4000 Block Featherbed Ln.
A woman reported that
sometime while she was out of
town, between July and August,
an extension ladder was stolen
from outside her residence. She
stated it was in her yard but
doesn’t know exactly when it
was taken. She stores it outside
because of constant work done on
the landscaping in her yard. It was
valued at approximately $400.

Island Chatter

Staff Report

River Road/Siesta roads swap will not be finalized before
end of year, county staff says
As late as Oct. 9, Sarasota County staff still was anticipating that a swap
with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) involving River Road
and roads on Siesta Key would be concluded by the end of this calendar year.
However, in response to a request for an update, county staff said that
instead of wrapping up the swap prior to Dec. 31, FDOT plans just to submit
to the county a draft road transfer agreement.
On May 22, the commissioners agreed on the facets of the road swap, which
would entail their commitment to assume authority over Stickney Point Road
and Siesta Drive west of U.S. 41, excluding the drawbridges — which the
state would continue to control — as well as Higel Avenue and the segment
of Midnight Pass Road north of the Stickney Point Road intersection. In
exchange, the state would assume authority over River Road. County leaders
had proposed that in late 2017 as a means of accelerating the widening and
other improvements of River Road that commissioners have sought for
decades.
FDOT staff had told county leaders that as long as River Road remained
a county road, it would have a lower priority on the department’s work
program lists. Only if River Road became a state road, FDOT representatives
pointed out, would the department be able to consider speeding up the
scheduling of the improvements.
The commissioners welcomed the news of the road swap negotiations
when then-County Administrator Tom Harmer announced them. Burgeoning
home construction in Venice and North Port, the coming relocation of the
Atlanta Braves’ Spring Training operations to a new West Villages facility,
and concerns Hurricane Irma underscored about the need for a much better
evacuation route for both South County residents and Charlotte County
residents were primary factors board members cited in supporting the idea.
Continued on page 15

www.siestasand.net

941.349.0194

JANUARY 2019

Island Visitor Publishing, LLC

County staff to proceed with design for new rock revetment
on north Casey Key Road and evaluate options for mid-key project
stabilization project By Rachel Brown Hackney
With erosion continuing to undermine the structural integrity
of portions of Casey Key Road — and a public water line
threatened in one area — the Sarasota County commissioners
unanimously have agreed to allow staff to begin the design and
permitting process for a rock revetment on the northern part
of the barrier island.
However, during a Dec. 11 discussion that took close to 90
minutes, the board members voiced concerns about staff’s
recommendation for constructing a seawall in the middle of
Casey Key to ameliorate the problems in that area. Spencer
Anderson, the county’s Public Works Department director,
and representatives of a Jacksonville firm that studied the
erosion — Taylor Engineering — explained that the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has not issued
a permit in five years for a new rock revetment because those
structures encompass a wider footprint than seawalls. The main
concern, the commissioners learned, was the documentation of
a sea turtle nest in the mid-key area. As a result, staff and the
consultants explained that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
would be reluctant to approve a permit for a rock revetment
in that location.
Anderson told the board that staff had discussed the
issue with representatives of the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection (FDEP). “It is a very difficult process
to obtain a permit for the rock revetment. … There’s probably a
way to get there. It may take a long time … and a lot of resources
to get there.”
“We basically have one road there,” Chair Nancy Detert told
him, “and they need to understand that.”
Anderson concurred with the fact that a solitary road serves
as the hurricane evacuation route for Casey Key residents.
Nonetheless, he said, the permitting agencies also would take
into account the fact that “everything seaward of the road is
private property.”
Nonetheless, commissioners voiced agreement with a Casey
Key resident who addressed them earlier that morning, saying
a seawall potentially could lead to exacerbation of erosion on
adjoining parts of the beach.
The motion — made by Commissioner Alan Maio —
ultimately called for staff to evaluate both the seawall option
and the rock revetment option for the mid-key project, which
would be in the vicinity of 2120 Casey Key Road.
The northern project would cost about $4.4 million, while at
mid-key, a seawall would cost about $3.4 million, and the rock

revetment would cost about $4.1 million, staff said.
Commissioners Michael Moran and Charles Hines, especially,
also voiced hesitation about reviving a special taxing district
that paid for a step revetment and other facilities on the
northern and southern parts of Casey Key between 1991 and
1995. Moran talked, for example, of having staff conduct a straw
poll of the owners of the 411 parcels that would be included in
the taxing district.
Finally, the board voted unanimously to table the decision
about how to pay for the projects — including the potential
of a special taxing district —until January 2019. Moran asked
that staff consider the best means of learning how the majority
of the affected property owners would feel about shouldering
part of the expense.
The person who spoke to them earlier during the meeting —
Archie Urciuoli — also said the Casey Key residents he was
representing in the mid-Key area objected to the prospect of
having to cover 50% of the cost of the two construction projects,
as the road and the water line both are public facilities.
Urciuoli added that the taxing district, which was established
more than 30 years ago, “is defunct and should not be
applicable.”
When the commission approved a special tax assessment
of property owners on southern Siesta Key for two beach
renourishment projects, he pointed out, those residents
benefited from the improvements to their property as a result.
The Casey Key situation, Urciuoli said, is different.
In the meantime, Larry Mau, assistant county engineer,
explained that a temporary stabilization measure county staff
had created for Casey Key Road — involving sandbags — is
expected to have a life between three and five years.
Responding to a question from Commissioner Hines, Mau
pointed out, “The sandbags break down due to the sun, surf.”
“In your opinion, are the road and the water line protected
so long as the bags stay in place?” Hines asked.
“I believe they are well protected right now,” Mau responded.
Nonetheless, he advised the commissioners, in the event of
a major hurricane, “All bets are off.”
When Commissioner Christian Ziegler asked whether the
sandbags could be replaced if that proved necessary, Anderson
replied, “The bags do require periodic maintenance to keep
them intact.” If a breach occurred, Anderson added, he felt
that more sandbags could be put in place of those that had
failed.

In August this year Gulf Gate Food + Beer opened its
doors in the Gulf Gate Village area. I know you’re
saying to yourself…. Food + Beer??? That’s really
the name? Owners Casey & Mike wanted to keep it
simple and even a little tongue and cheek. They’re a
neighborhood spot that serves elevated bar food and
craft beer. Mike said he often sees people staring at
the sign on the roof with their half burger/ half beer
mug logo, so he pops out to say “you guessed it we’ve
got food, and we’ve got beer!” Mike says he gets into
the best conversations that way.
Gulf Gate Food + Beer is a modern spin on a classic
sports bar. Yes, there are lots of TVs, great chicken
wings, and paper towel rolls on each table, but it’s a
whole lot more than that. The rustic
décor, blue tufted leather booths,
and unique menu options really
set it apart from the average sports
bar we all know and love. The duo
also are big proponents of value not
only in service and atmosphere but
in price. They believe restaurants
have continued to raise prices and
some have priced themselves out of
the market. Everything on the menu
is ala carte and sides are available in
single and shareable portions.
The menu is anything but your
ordinary sports bar & pub cuisine.
The menu has a collection of bowls
served over sticky rice, unique
craft burgers, out of this world
sandwiches, creative salads, and
a lot of popular shareables. The
‘Poke Tuna bowl’ has become an
instant success. They serve this
Hawaiian classic over sticky rice with roasted poblano
guacamole, pickled radish, nori (dried seaweed),
cucumber and topped with a sriracha mayo. Another
favorite is the “You Jel?” burger which features a
jalapeno pepper jelly, chipotle cream cheese, breakfast
bacon, and a roasted jalapeno. If you’re not as
adventurous they do offer a basic cheeseburger called
the low five. Vegetarian? The “impossible foods”
impossible burger is served here. If you haven’t had
this, it is a plant-based burger that looks and tastes like
ground beef. The impossible burger at Gulf Gate Food
+ Beer is called the “Hollywood Herbivore” and served
with pecan goat cheese, pickled radish, & arugula.
CHEAP LUNCH! Every Monday thru Friday from
11am to 3pm Gulf Gate Food + Beer offers a $6.99
lunch. Offered are the ‘Low five’ cheeseburger (hand
pattied angus, American cheese, bibb lettuce, tomato,
pickles, and onion) & fresh cut fries, chicken philly
(garlic bread hoagie, house roasted chicken, whizz,
caramelized onions) & fresh cut fries, or chicken
burrito bowl (tomatillo roasted chicken, Monterey
jack cheese, pinto beans, pico de galo, sticky rice &
sour cream).
KITCHEN OPEN LATE! That’s right they’re
open late. Full menu is offered until 1am Sunday –
Thursday, and until 2am Friday & Saturday.
HAPPY HOUR ALL DARN DAY! From open
until close daily. $3 Narragansett Lager pints, $3.50
Mimosa’s, $4 house red or house white wines.
FAMILY FRIENDLY & NON-SMOKING With all

the bars in the area it’s commonly asked if families are
welcome. Gulf Gate Food + Beer is a family friendly
environment during lunch and dinner. Late night
after 10pm does have more of a bar vibe with lower
lights and louder music. (Advertorial)

www.siestasand.net

941.349.0194

JANUARY 2019

Landings residents, Volunteer as tutors
By Diana Colson

Jim and Jan from New Milford, CT spend some quality
time on beautiful Siesta Key beach. They’d like to give
a shout out to Dean and Flo and wish them a Happy
New Year. Photo submitted by James Wildman.

Alpine Steakhouse is proud to
be the recipient of the Sarasota
Magazine Readers’ Choice award
for “Best Restaurant for Steak”
for the past five consecutive
years.
If you haven’t yet, it’s time
for you to discover the Alpine
Steakhouse, Florida’s oldest
premier restaurant, steakhouse,
meat market (butcher shop) and
small specialty grocery all under
one roof. The Alpine is something
of a cultural landmark, being
more than 40 years old, the first
place in Sarasota to specialize in
prime meats of the New York
City steakhouse persuasion, and
has continually been operated
and crafted to perfection by the
same family.
Come in and enjoy a great steak
in the recently remodeled 70 seat
dining room. You can choose
your own steak from the meat
case.
“The thing that makes me the
proudest is that virtually nothing
we serve comes out of a box or
shrink-wrap,” says co-owner
Mark Rebhan.
Owners Mark and son Matt
Rebhan, want to invite everyone
to come and enjoy a great meal in
this unique restaurant.

The Rebhans want everyone
to know that they offer a
complete catering service for
business, holiday and events.
The restaurant is located at 4520
S. Tamiami Trail, one block north
of Proctor Road at traffic light of
Field Road and US 41. Hours;
Mon-Thu 9am-9pm, Fri & Sat
9am-9:30pm, Sun Closed. (941)
922-3797 www.alpinesteak.com
Advertorial

Big Water Fish Market

19

Retail Market & Restaurant
Now with 2 Locations on Siesta Key to Serve You

& Martini Bar

R

A

941.349.9822

E

theblasecafe.com

Y

“What an amazing place! It is
not fancy or pretentious!”
Just excellent food and great
service. We had the NY strips and
the filet mignon...all cooked perfectly
and melted in your mouth. The twice
baked potatoes are amazing as is the
homemade clam chowder. We were
full but we HAD to try dessert...we
had the truffles mint chocolate chip
and spumoni with fresh whipped
cream. Even the coffee was good...
what took us so long? Also want to
order from the meat market... wow.
One of my new favorite places.

Choose your steak from the meat case

“Pittsburgh Style”
We had the NY Strip “Pittsburgh
Style” which means heavy sear on
both sides. Lots of flavor. Mmmmm.
We had a twice baked potato to go
with it. We are on our way again
for the second time this week. Great
Atmosphere. Also, an in house
butcher shop right inside. Next time
I’m going to come here to pick up my
steaks and fresh ground sirloin for
some tasty burgers.

for tutors, mailings (stamps), food, drinks and paper
products for two pot-luck dinners, folders and labels for
students, as well as miscellaneous supplies.
Anne Montgomery and the late Ann Fenton both
also served as Back to Basics tutors from the Landings.
Volunteers number more than 100, and many are not
members of COP. Both snowbirds and year-round
residents are welcome, and substitute tutors are always
needed! A folder is kept for every child documenting
the activities they have accomplished, making it easy
for substitutes to pick up the ball.
Since each tutor works with the same student all year,
volunteers develop a relationship with their students.
Sheryl’s young client was astonished to find that she was
not salaried. “You mean you do these things without
getting paid?”
Eileen Kirk has been tutoring at COP for five years.
She works with students of any grade level who speak
English as a second language. Eileen once taught French
and Spanish in Philadelphia but is not required to speak
the same primary language as her student. Instead, she
has been trained in the techniques of teaching English as
a second language, and it is a wonderful approach with
proven success!
Back to Basics program can always use more tutors!
Although there are currently 100, many students are
on the wait list, hoping to enter the program as more
tutors become available. Director Linda Evans welcomes
applicants. You may call 941- 924-1323 and ask for
Linda to find out more about the program. Remember,
becoming a tutor only requires one hour of your time on
Tuesday or Thursday afternoons!
In the words of one parent: “My son bonded
immediately with his tutor and the help she gave him….
I cannot say enough…what a wonderful program this is!”
There is a potluck for families and teachers at the end of
the year, a joyous event that brings families and mentors
together.

fé

B

Many Landings residents have chosen to put volunteer
energies into tutoring children, among them Sheryl
Lindholm, Michael Kurtz, and Eileen Kirk. The time
required is small, but the potential impact is enormous!
It is important work, because one-on-one tutors are in a
position to make a real difference in young lives.
Back to Basics Tutoring Program is run by Church of
the Palms to provide supplemental academic assistance
to students in nearby schools. This program was started
in January of 1992 and began with only 12 students from
two schools. Today it serves more than 230 students
throughout the school year, kids drawn from over 30
Sarasota schools.
Students are referred to this program by classroom
teachers, school principals, school counselors, students,
friends, and various agencies. Back to Basics tutors work
with the same child for a minimum of one hour a week.
They help with homework, book reports, test reviews,
and life lessons.
Tutoring is done at the Church after school on Tuesdays
and Thursdays, between the hours of 2:30 and 6:30 pm,
depending on student schedules. The Church is located
at 3224 Bee Ridge Road, and there are lots of resources
available for tutors to draw from. Cupboards are full
of books and materials! Sheryl Lindholm, a former
school teacher, was impressed when she discovered the
program. She now works with children in the 1st, 2nd
and 3rd grades, while her late husband, Rich Lindholm,
tutored high school students in physics and math.
Landings resident Mike Kurtz has been tutoring here
for 12 or 13 years and is enthusiastic about the experience.
“All the directors have been very accommodating. If
you go away for a holiday, that’s fine. They will find
a substitute for you. Every year there is a one-hour
orientation where you learn how to sign in and how to
write comments for follow up. Everyone is made to feel
comfortable with the protocols. You are free to select the
grade level you prefer to tutor as well as the subject or
subjects. The director makes every effort to have tutoring
be as welcoming and hassle-free as possible.”
Mike is currently in his 4th year of working with the
same student. “His parents and I hit it off, and we are all
very happy to continue! It makes a productive experience
for us all. I work with him on English, Vocabulary,
Composition, History, and Civics. These are the courses
in which the student feels the most need, and happily the
ones with which I am most comfortable.” Mike majored
in Political Science in college.
Math is the subject most in demand, especially higher
math. Mike is comfortable teaching Math up to 6th grade,
but turns higher levels, such as Calculus, over to others.
According to Sheryl Lindholm, it is easy to become a
tutor at COP. People may register as volunteers by going
to www.churchofthepalms.org, click on the Youth and
Families tab, then click on the link for Tutoring. (As in
all schools, there will be a background check, of course.)
Again, being a tutor requires as little as one hour a week
of your time, and you stay with the same child all year.
Children receive a snack when they first come in and
settle down. A small tuition covers these snacks, but no
child is refused because of their financial situation. The
generous support of Church of the Palms (COP) provides
for facilities, personnel expenses, computers, supplies for
tutoring such as paper, pencils and workbooks for ideas

A huge thank you to all participants of the 2018
Siesta Key Condo Council Holiday Lighting Contest
for putting on another magical Christmas lights
display and for all the judges who’ve been tasked
with determining the winners. Co-sponsored by the

•
•
•
•
•
•

www.siestasand.net

5758 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota

941.923.1232

Next to Phillippi Estate Park.
Serving Siesta Key and Sarasota

www.IsanThaiRestaurant.com

‘Twas the festive holiday season and all over the Key,
Light displays were-- shining, with many a Christmas tree.
Santas and reindeer, and wreaths full of snow
Are well represented in this lovely light show.
The annual contest began, condos entered in groups,
Volunteers and staffers rushed to work,
all jumping through hoops.
Next came the pine boughs and decorative holly
To be viewed by the judges aboard the Siesta Trolley.
The judges stepped onto the trolley, lit up for the season,
And we broke out the eggnog, for an obvious reason.
The beautiful entrance at Whispering Sands was really a breeze,
Then we were greeted by Sunset Royale
among the cute palm trees.
Harbour Town’s red palm trees and La Siesta’s snowman,
And Gulf & Bay’s white palms and colorful fountains, Oh man!
Santa and blow-up minions at Casablanca,
lined with canes of candy
Rivaled the snowmen with Santa and his reindeer
at Beach Haven – how dandy!
Then there was the magnificent 3-D lighting extravaganza
at Peppertree,
At Island House, we saw snowmen, a holiday train,
and “Siesta Santa.” Whee!
Kaleidoscope lights and snowflakes at Siesta Dunes, quite sassy,
And oversized ornaments in their bushes
were unique and classy.
Crescent Arms presented colorful lighted shrubs and palms,
Oh gee!
While Seashell sported a Santa entrance
and a sweet wall display tree.
We had to peer up high atop Sandpiper to view Santa
and a huge white cross.
Did I mention the eggnog? Looking up,
one judge dropped his clipboard from the bus!
Bay Tree’s carolers sang “We Wish You a Merry Christmas
and “Jingle Bells,”
And offered us sweet treats among the lovely lights
– it was swell.
Midnight Cove flaunted an entrance wreath
and gorgeous white lights,
And Coquille’s palms were white topped with green
– oh, what a sight!
At Excelsior, we were greeted by carolers bearing cookies
and wine,
They invited us back to their charming, romantic walkway
– that was fine!
Back onto the trolley the judges climbed, out of sight,
Saying, “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.”

www.siestasand.net

941.349.0194

JANUARY 2019

Island Chatter

15

Seafood lovers, it’s good and fresh

Continued from page 10

However, details had to be ironed out, including what specific
responsibilities the county and the state would have.

Siesta projects among county’s 2019 MPO priorities
On Dec. 11, when the Sarasota County commissioners updated their
transportation priorities for state and federal consideration in 2019,
Siesta transit improvements were listed at No. 15 on a list of 22 projects.
The board approved the recommendations to the Sarasota/Manatee
Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), which will review them
before finalizing a list for FDOT and the federal government.
On the 2018 list, the multimodal improvements on Beach Road
from Avenida del Mare to the Midnight Pass Road intersection were
ranked 38 among the MPO’s priorities. That was noted on a chart
county Transportation Planning Manager Paula Wiggins provided the
commissioners in advance of the Dec. 11 meeting — as a reminder of
action they took earlier this year. (The MPO has changed its timing for
local governments to provide new priorities, she told the board.)
A Dec. 11 memo from Wiggins to the board says the goal of the Siesta
project is to construct bus stop shelters and crosswalks, along with other
improvements to assist handicapped people under the guidelines of the
federal Americans with Disabilities Act.
Yet another project on the list that would involve Siesta is a Sarasota
County Barrier Island Study, which the commissioners ranked No. 9
for 2019. In her memo, Wiggins explained that that study would take a
comprehensive look at the islands from south of Lido Key to Manasota
Key, “to determine and resolve circulation/traffic operations and to
evaluate island-to-mainland connections to the east.”
FDOT is working to complete a Barrier Islands Study covering the area
from Manatee County south through Lido. The County Commission has
been supportive of that project, for which Manatee County leaders and
the Longboat Key Town Commission advocated. A final report on that
study is expected in the spring of 2019, Longboat Town Manager Tom
Harmer said this fall.
The county commissioners previously have talked about their desire
for a southern Barrier Islands Study, partly to help them focus on
improvements they can make to help alleviate traffic congestion for Siesta
residents and beachgoers during tourist season.

Tourist Development Tax revenue
down for October
The effects of red tide are obvious in the first Tourist Development Tax
(TDT) figures for the 2019 fiscal year.
Siesta property owners and businesses that collect the 5% tax on
accommodations rented for six or fewer months reported taking in
$233,703.36 in October, according to data from the Sarasota County Tax
Collector’s Office.
In comparison, in October 2017, the Siesta total was $294,786.15, based
on data through the end of the 2018 fiscal year.
Over the past several years, Siesta has reported the highest figure for
collections by the end of the fiscal year. Typically, though, it begins each
new fiscal year lagging the city of Sarasota. That is the case in the most
recent report from the Tax Collector’s Office. Entities in the city turned in
39.45% of the total amount for October of this year, compared to 23.15%
for those on Siesta.

Siesta Key Association meeting date changed
SKA will hold its first meeting of 2019 on January 10 to help alleviate
scheduling conflicts with holiday travel. The monthly meeting is
normally scheduled on the first Thursday of the month. The meeting will
be held at Boniface Church, located at 5615 Midnight Pass Road at 4:30
pm in the Parish Hall, all are welcome. This month’s topic, short term
rentals, Planning Services will be speaking on short rental ordinance
enforcement.
Continued on page 23

Yelp review: I see why this place is all five stars. Amazing find,
tucked away in a nondescript strip mall adds to its local, simple vibe.
Best seafood I have had in a long time. Service made it feel like we were
part of the family, four happy diners tonight. If you read this post, stop
searching and start eating. Seriously do not pass up this little gem.
Living in Florida, you expect to find fresh seafood no matter
where you dine. If you are a local seafood lover, you probably
have a mental list of go-to restaurants which serve the freshest
seafood. Fresh Catch Fish Market & Grill needs to be added to
it.
Fresh Catch’s, father/son duo, Bob and Devon Provost have
a serious passion for seafood which started way back when the
family lived in the Boston area. Their simply prepared, neverfried, never-frozen dishes are paired with a variety of simple
sauces that serve to complement, so the freshness of the seafood
shines.
Your fish/seafood selection goes from the case onto the grill.
Prepared grilled or blackened, topped with lemon and butter, Pico
de Gallo or tropical salsa. Served with a fresh ear of corn on the
cob and baby roasted potatoes. Soups, salads, sandwiches and
steam pots round out the menu. If room permits, be sure to order
a slice of their homemade key lime pie. Bob’s wife, Debra, makes
the key lime pie, using freshly whipped cream. The restaurant
also offers a nice selection of beers and wines.
Fresh Catch Fish Market & Grill, located at 7119 S. Tamiami
Trail, just south of Stickney Point Road in the Buccaneer Plaza,
is a casual restaurant/market with indoor and outdoor seating
for close to 30.
Here’s what more patrons are saying about
the restaurant on line:
Tried this place last night on a whim and it did not disappoint!
Everything from the staff, to the menu, to the meal itself was perfection.
It’s a small place and luckily we’d come in between dinner rushes and
got a table right away. Within 10 mins the place was full again. The
wait staff was smiling and helpful.
We shared stone crab soup to start with a couple of ice cold beers, tons
of crab in the soup and excellent flavor. For our meals we got blackened
tripletail and snow crab claws. Each came with a side of roasted potatoes.
I can’t say enough about how fresh and delicious the entire meal was.
We will be back!
WOW! WOW! WOW! This place is a hidden gem! Fish was fresh
today and you could taste the difference. Very clean kitchen. They cooked
the fish to perfection and the presentation was 5 stars like you would
expect at a fancy resort; those extra added steps. This place is the real
deal. Only thing that made me upset was that I never knew it was here
before.
Sooooood GOOD! This is must try!
I was so glad to find this cute restaurant and fish market. To get a
high-quality fish you need a fish market and this fits the bill. I wanted
a takeout fish plate and I got the blackened pompano with potatoes
and corn. I made a salad at home and had a beautiful meal. The corn
was not overlooked. It also has a big counter so the next time I will
order some oysters and try another dish. It’s much bigger than I
thought. I am going to become a regular.
See more reviews online at Yelp and Trip Advisor.
Special orders and reservations accepted.
Fresh Catch Fish Market and Grill is open from 11
a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday. 941-413-7133,
freshcatchfishmarketandgrill.com (Advertorial)

Sarasota County staff leading by example
and encouraging and educating the public
about ways to mitigate red tide bloom

Emphasizing concerns on
Cosentino’s Amendments

By Rachel Brown Hackney

On Dec. 11 Sarasota County Attorney Stephen DeMarsh discussed
the following item with the County Commissioners.
The item asked for establishment of a time and place for a public
hearing on a petition for the county to vacate part of its interest
in an 84,171.45-square-foot portion of Hardee Drive in Venice.
Commissioner Hines had pulled the item from the Consent Agenda
even before attorney Steve Rees of the Icard Merrill firm in Sarasota
addressed the commissioners about it during the Open to the Public
portion of the Dec. 11 meeting.
Hines questioned Rees, who is the agent for the petitioners,
about whether the road segment could be considered to have a
“waterfront vista.”
Hines referenced the Cosentino Charter amendment that won
support of 72.7% of the voters who cast ballots on it in the Nov. 6
General Election. That amendment says, “The County shall not sell,
and shall retain ownership of, County-owned Parks and Preserves,
and shall not vacate or sell County-owned road segments or right of
way along or abutting any beach, river, creek, canal, lake, bay, gulf
access or waterfront vista. The County shall encourage maximum
right of way use for public access and viewing of waterfront vistas.
Whenever feasible, the County shall make these areas accessible to
mobility impaired persons.”
Rees showed the board the applicable section of the 1926 Venice
Farms plat, which depicted the area without a body of water visible
in current aerial maps. After Interstate 75 was constructed through
the area, Rees explained, subsequent aerial views show the water.
“It is a completely manmade water body.” If his clients wanted to
do so, Rees added, they “could put a hose in there and drain the
entire borrow pit.”
His position, Rees said, is that the Cosentino Charter amendment
“does not apply in this situation of the requested street vacation.”
Hines indicated that he believes the argument could be made
that it does.
“We do want to implement the wishes of the people,” Chair
Nancy Detert said of the Cosentino amendment. “I think we
understand the spirit of what it is they were trying to accomplish,”
she added of the amendment’s supporters. “But I think we need to
do everything we can to protect ourselves from potential lawsuits.
… It’s just fraught with alligators, frankly.”
“I agree with you on that,” DeMarsh told her.
The County Charter gives a citizen “the right to judicial relief”
to enforce the Charter, he continued, “and so that’s the problem.”
“The commission can interpret the Charter language one way,”
DeMarsh explained, and a citizen can interpret the language
another way. In such cases, he said, the final decision on the correct
interpretation comes via a court ruling.

Sarasota County staff members work to lead by
example and to educate the public about measures that
will reduce the amount of pollutants entering coastal
waters, three county representatives told about 50
members of the Siesta Key Association on Dec. 6.
Yet, while the county’s Fertilizer and Landscape
Management Ordinance is more restrictive than
the comparable state law, David Pousso, senior
environmental specialist, explained that staff cannot
take certain steps, such as telling retailers not to sell
fertilizers during the rainy season. The Office of
the County Attorney has warned, Pousso said, that
such action would be considered an infringement on
commerce.
Nonetheless, Pousso pointed out, “We respond to
thousands of citizen calls every year” regarding people
using fertilizer between June 1 and Sept. 30, when the
county ordinance does not allow that. “Actually, you
guys are an asset to us.”
Likewise, he said, employees of professional
landscaping companies will report people working for
other companies when they violate the ordinance. Staff
sends out a Code Enforcement officer to respond to all
such calls, Pousso added.
In response to a question, Pousso said that staff has
tried educating managers of stores about the ordinance,
“but they weren’t too keen on us being there.”
He also pointed out that because the county’s fertilizer
ordinance was adopted before a similar state law
went into effect in 2009, the county cannot add more
prohibitive measures to the local ordinance. If it tried
to do so, he told the audience, it would risk state action
to pre-empt the county regulations.
Additionally, he continued, the county cannot regulate
pest control, because Florida law makes it clear that such
action is a state responsibility only.
The focus of the Dec. 6 discussion at the Siesta Key
Association (SKA) meeting was on measures that can
mitigate red tide.
Pousso; Lee Hayes Byron, director of the University
of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
(UF/IFAS) in Sarasota County; and Armando Ubeda,
the county’s Sea Grant agent, all emphasized that the
algae that causes red tide, Karenia brevis, thrives on
chemicals — especially nitrogen — that the public uses
and which end up in waterways.
In fact, Pousso pointed out, the County Code also
prohibits the depositing of grass clippings and other
vegetative debris onto roads and into stormwater
conveyances, such as ditches. “This is one thing that a
lot of people don’t realize,” he said. When such matter
has been introduced into the system, the first big rain of
the summer — what is called the “first flush,” he noted
— sends all that debris into the waterways. Decaying
leaves and acorns, for example, he said, raise the level
of nutrients for red tide.
If a neighbor is blowing leaves onto the road, Pousso
told the audience, “Give us a call.”
Pousso and Byron also talked about the county’s
certification program for commercial fertilizer
applicators. Everyone who completes the training gets
a decal from the county to place on his or her truck. If
someone sees a commercial company employee working
in a neighborhood, and that decal is not visible on the
person’s truck or other equipment, Pousso asked that
the public also call the county.

Byron also stressed that homeowners should not be
shy about asking the lawn maintenance workers they
employ if those workers are using fertilizers during the
rainy season, in contravention of the county ordinance.
“Challenge them.”
Since 2006, Byron said, 2,445 landscape professionals
in the community have become certified through the
county program.
At the same time, she noted, directors of homeowners
associations and condominium associations should
verify that lawn maintenance companies they employ
are abiding by Florida-friendly practices outlined in
county ordinances.
Ubeda pointed out that Karenia brevis has been
proven to be “very opportunistic” in its feeding. For
example, he continued, when its cells clog the gills
of fish, and the fish die, the algae then thrives off the
decaying matter.
The tail of the organism allows it to move vertically
in the water column, he explained, which also makes
it easier for the dinoflagellate to find food. He likened
that action to the movements of sunflowers to follow
the sun.

Policy and practice

SKA Vice President Catherine Luckner introduced the
three county speakers, pointing out that the SKA has
been trying to provide its members as much information
as possible over the past few months, so they will be
knowledgeable about red tide and able to pursue action
to mitigate the current bloom.
Ubeda of Sea Grant explained that currents in the Gulf
of Mexico and the wind have bearing on the movement
of the bloom, which typically originates from 10 to 40
miles offshore.
Karenia brevis is a photosynthetic organism, he added,
meaning it needs sunlight to thrive.
While the perception is that the current bloom is one
of the most enduring in recent history, Ubeda said, that
is not the case. The longest one documented in the past
65 years, he continued, occurred over 30 months, from
1994 to 1997. Another one lasted 21 months, from 2002
to 2004.
During Pousso’s part of the presentation, he talked
about policies in the county’s Comprehensive Plan
related to sustainable landscaping for the public and
private sectors. For example, Environmental Policy
5.1.3 says the county shall recommend Florida-Friendly
Landscaping in new developments and provide
educational materials to developers and homeowners.
As for septic tanks: Pousso explained that inspections
are not mandatory.
Byron, the UF/IFAS director, said that although
the state briefly had a law in place several years ago
that called for septic tank inspections, the law was
overturned.
She reported in a follow-up email, “While septic tank
inspections are not mandatory in the state regulations,
local governments can adopt rules more stringent than
the current state requirements.”
Byron also told the SKA audience that the county has
replaced about 10,000 septic systems in the Phillippi
Creek watershed over the past 15 years, representing
about 68% of the total number targeted. About 3,000
systems are left to be converted in that watershed, she
added.

By Rachel Brown Hackney

A process already underway
During the discussion, DeMarsh referenced the fact that the
county has been contesting the legality of both Cosentino’s Charter
amendments.
The second amendment calls for the county to reacquire the
section of North Beach Road that the commission vacated in May
2016 at the request of three sets of property owners. It also calls for
the county to repair and reopen the road, which has been closed to
motor vehicle traffic since 1993 because of repeated storm damage.
Cosentino filed suit against the county in June 2016, seeking to
overturn the road vacation. Although he has lost his case in the
12th Judicial Circuit Court, he has appealed Circuit Judge Frederick
Mercurio’s dismissal of the last part of the complaint to the Second
District Court of Appeal.
If the board wanted the Office of the County Attorney (OCA) to
continue to pursue its action on the Charter amendments in the
12th Judicial Circuit Court, DeMarsh said, then the OCA would
do so. A Nov. 15 memo from the OCA to the commission explains
the ongoing litigation.
In Cosentino v. Sarasota County, the memo says, the Office of the
County Attorney “filed a post-election challenge to the two charter
amendments. … In Caflisch v. Sarasota County, the Plaintiffs sued
Sarasota County alleging the two charter amendments are illegal.
The County filed its answer which agreed the amendments violate
state law and are unconstitutionally vague,” the memo continues.
“In each lawsuit,” the memo says, “the County alleges the two
charter amendments are inconsistent with executive/administrative
authority granted to the Board by statute to convey property, vacate
roads, and make budgetary decisions. The County also alleged that
the amendments are vague.”

A question about a timeline
As the county commissioners discussed Mike Cosentino’s county
Charter amendments on Dec. 11, Commissioner Christian Ziegler
asked when the measures became law.
“Upon passing,” County Attorney Stephen DeMarsh replied,
though he clarified that the amendments would have been
considered law after the election results were certified.
Then Ziegler asked whether the passage of the amendment
regarding reacquisition of the vacated North Beach Road segment
implied that a certain timeline must be followed.
It did not, DeMarsh told him.
When Ziegler asked whether, for example, the commission could
wait five years to reacquire the road segment, DeMarsh responded,
“If there were a lengthy period of time with no action, I presume
that the citizen might be able to file an action, seeking a judicial
relief requiring the board to take some action.”
“There’s that vagueness that’s in place about the timeline, right?”
Ziegler asked.
“I think that’s correct, yes,” DeMarsh replied.

How many times have you looked in the mirror
thinking to yourself - a little nip here perhaps a tuck
there would really help take some years off your
appearance. But then you think of the time needed to
recuperate after a facelift and wonder just how much
pain is involved not to mention expense and possible
risk of complications, so decide against it.
There must be a safer, painless alternative with
less expense and no downtime.
Well, there IS! Connie Lewis, LMT Aesthetician,
former proprietor and Spa Director at Massage
Experience, Siesta Key is continuing to offer her
microcurrent (anti-aging) facial at her new studio
located inside of SPALYPSO.
The microcurrent facial is rejuvenating and offers
a safe alternative to more invasive treatments on the
market today. This facial has been a favorite of royalty
in Europe for years. Oprah featured it on her shows
some years back.
It’s a very luxurious, pampering, results-driven
facial which lifts, tones and tightens the muscles of
your face. The effects are immediate and cumulative.
This uplifting therapy is preventive, as well as
corrective. It’s a great alternative to surgery as it is
non-invasive and quite enjoyable and relaxing.

Research on microcurrent technology
A study by the University of Washington proved
that microcurrent increases your skin’s elastin fibers
by 45%, collagen by 10% and the number of blood
vessels by 35%. It can increase ATP, your body’s
building block, by 500% resulting in softening
wrinkles and toning facial muscles.
Interestingly, this technology stems from a medical
treatment to treat Bell’s Palsy. Many of the patients

Can you use it in conjunction with
facial injections?
If you’ve received facial injections, facial sculpting
or microcurrent facials are for you too! It will help
maintain your lift in between your injections. Since
this process is cumulative, more treatments bring more
noticeable and longer lasting results. Most people see
their desired results within 7 -12 treatments.
The combined use of Pevonia Botanica’s ultimate
anti-aging products during this facial treatment
enhances the treatment even more by assisting in
product penetration.
Lewis recently closed her former location Massage
Experience, Siesta Key and is now practicing in
the Gulf Gate Estates area just over the Stickney
Point Bridge. She is currently offering her signature
treatment that combines a facial and a massage
simultaneously. And, of course, her massage offerings
include deeply relaxing intuitive massage therapy and
her ever-popular hot stone massage.
“My personal philosophy
when working with a client
for the first time or the 101st
time is to see with my hands.
To help me intuitively know
when and how much to use
the wands when sculpting
during a microcurrent
facial,” says Lewis. “Or
how much pressure and on
what areas to work during
a massage session. After
so many years of practice,
I have a sixth sense that
guides me through the service to let my hands tell me
what to do. Energetically and physically allowing to
give my clients the perfect session.”
Connie Lewis, BS LMT Aesthetician, established
Massage Experience, Siesta Key (1996-2018) and is
now providing all of her services at Spalypso located
in the Pine Park Office Centre, 7037 S. Tamiami Trail.
Just minutes from the Stickney Point Bridge from
Siesta Key.
You can book an appointment online at
SpaexperienceSiestaKey.com or by calling 941-3507495.
(MA17596 / MM33422) (Advertorial)

Sounds good, but how does it work?
The gentle and 100% non-invasive treatment works
in synergy with your body’s natural energy system. It
sends safe, painless impulses to the muscles in your
face to relax muscles that are overly tightened, and
strengthens those that are underworked with very low
levels of electrical current. It stimulates the production
of collagen and elastin providing a natural-looking lift.
During the microcurrent facial, probes are used to
physically move the muscle into the desired position
to perform what is known as muscle re-education –
the process of lengthening or shortening muscles. In
essence, it retrains the facial muscles and rebuilds
them closer to their original shape.

found it worked so well, they asked to have the
unaffected side of their face treated as well.

Sarasota County Planning Services will discuss
Short Term Rental Ordinance Enforcement
public is always welcome with questions for our guests.

8800 South Tamiami Trail, Suite C, Sarasota, FL 34238
941-966-5603

Transition

Dear friends, neighbors and patients,
After 48 years as a practicing General Dentist it’s
.
time to hang up the mirror and explorer.
Thankfully, I’ve been able to leave my practice in
good hands with Dr. Sean Bates of Palmer Ranch Dental
LLC, same address and phone number.
Thanks again and I look forward to the future with
my wife, Betty, and our friends and relatives living in
paradise.

AWARDING MORE THAN $8 MILLION IN GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

There’s no limit to the BARGAINS you’ll FIND!
Supporting local ARTS related programs &
education for more than 50 years.

Siesta Key Drum Circle
Every Sunday is a perfect time to come to the
Key to reconnect with Mother Nature and to enjoy
some wonderful entertainment. I’m talking about
the Siesta Key Drum Circle that takes place each
Sunday starting about an hour before sunset and
lasting until about 10 p.m. The gathering meets up
just south of the main pavilion - just follow your
ears and watch for the swelling crowd.
Please note the following rules of etiquette
that need to be observed at the Drum Circle so
that all can enjoy the experience: the inside of the
drum circle is for participants only, not for people

standing around. Feel free to enter the circle, take a
picture and dance, but always keep moving. Never
play someone’s drum without getting clearance
from the owner. Always ask before borrowing
other people’s property, especially hula hoops.
Flash photography and bright video lights are
distracting, so photograph during daylight or use
a night vision camera. And finally, please do not
drink alcohol or smoke inside the circle and respect
our beach by placing all trash in the appropriate
receptacles.
Photo Courtesy of SwahiliKeeley Photography.

Don’t Waste Your Island Time Crossing Bridges!
We are conveniently located just a few steps from Crescent Beach and minutes away from anywhere on the Key.

The Beginnings of Siesta Key and Florida’s Unique Origin
As the New Year begins after Florida’s 2018
nightmares, I hope that it’s interesting for
readers to learn about the incredible origin of
the Sunshine State and how Siesta Key began.
The way Siesta Key formed, in fact, helps us
understand why it was destined to become
“America’s Best Beach.”
Few Floridians seem to appreciate the
geographical origin of their State, its geologic
uniqueness, and the huge gift of sand from
present-day Georgia and the Carolinas. Have
you ever wondered how North America’s
appendage named La Florida in 1513 originated
looking something like Italy? Was it an extension
of the land mass that became the USA, as many
assume? Or, did Florida migrate north from near
Cuba in the Caribbean? Neither explanation is
correct.
Also, why is Florida spared from ever
having earthquakes like Alaska experienced
recently? Lastly, when and how did “The Most
Complicated Barrier Island System in the World”
(Richard Davis, Pineapple Press, 2016) develop
along the Gulf Coast? The answer to these
questions and more lie in the State’s unique
geologic history.

Geographic migration of Florida: How
Florida joined North America
The Florida peninsula is the youngest region
of the USA, but it was not always part of the
North American continent. Peninsular Florida
is essentially a large land mass of granite-based
rock that broke off from Africa during an ancient
super-continental collision and was “sutured” to
ancestral North America. Then, it was covered
with biologically produced limestone and next
by purified quartz sand transported from the
southern Appalachian Mountains to create an
appendage of the eventual USA.
Unlike the rest of North America, peninsular
Florida was originally embedded 700 million
years ago within the African and South American
continents as part of the supercontinent
Gondwana. All of the other states and the
Panhandle were part of the future North America
in another supercontinent known as Laurasia.
Peninsular Florida’s rock foundation was
located at approximately the South Pole when
an incredible 8,000-mile-long migration via
plate motion began about 650 million years
ago. Thus, most of peninsular Florida’s original
surface, now its rock basement, is similar to
the foundation of northwest Africa with a

composition of granites, sandstones, and shales.
From about 150 to 100 million years ago,
Florida’s bedrock was separated from North
America by the South Georgia Rift Basin, a sixtymile-wide grand canyon. At that time, while
covered with warm, shallow water, Peninsular
Florida’s surface was altered by formation of a
calcium carbonate (limestone) layer up to fourmiles thick, resulting from biochemical reactions
involving the over-layered plant, microbe, and
animal ecosystem. Then, a long global warming
period ensued due to volcanic eruptions
causing very high carbon dioxide levels and a
greenhouse effect. The rising sea levels converted
the canyon to the Georgia Seaway Channel as it
filled with water, thus temporarily isolating the
Peninsula as an island of the Caribbean.
Florida’s debt to the Appalachians:
origin of the sand
Perhaps the most surprising aspect of Florida’s
famous beaches is that none of the sand is
indigenous.
After the Appalachian Mountain range was
created by continental collisions, it began to
experience massive erosions through chemical
and physical weathering, reducing the chain’s

By Philip M. Farrell, MD, PhD
peaks from as high as 25,000 feet to their
present maximum height of 6,684 feet and
generally much lower. The composition of the
Appalachians, in retrospect, was favorable for
the Southeastern USA because its rocks were
enriched in quartz, one of the hardest and most
durable minerals on earth.
Chemical weathering combined with physical
weathering, abundant rainfall, and huge rivers
led to an enormous volume of quartz-rich
sediment transport for more than 100 million
years to the Atlantic shore through the Georgia
Seaway Channel, filling that ancient rift to
create a land bridge, southern Georgia’s coastal
plain, and eventually carrying the sand to
Florida. From 30 to 4 million years ago, massive
sediment transport by the Apalachicola River
and numerous other large rivers then brought a
pivotal covering of sand to Florida.
Emergence of the Gulf barrier island system
and development of Siesta Key
When glacial melting began after the last Ice
Age, sea levels rose again and literally drowned
the western 100 miles of Florida’s west coast—
consuming half of the peninsular acreage during
18,000 to 7,000 BCE.

Another dramatic shoreline change took place
around 3,000 years ago as a system of barrier
islands began rising out of the Gulf. Siesta Key
was then created through a process known as
upward shoaling that involves a combination of
marine forces and abundant Appalachian sand
moving by longshore transport and building up
Siesta Key through a series of successive beachdune ridges.
Siesta Key, in contrast to the other keys of
Sarasota County, has the advantage of being a
mixed-energy barrier island defined by Davis
as an “island that is wide at one end due to
sediment accumulation... but narrow at the other
end indicating sediment starved conditions.”
This results in an important, characteristic
“drumstick” shape.
The tidal inlet, Big Sarasota Pass, plays an
important role in the deposition of sand by
contributing to the creation of swash bars—
accumulations of sand developing as a result
of waves for transport to land through wavegenerated currents. You can actually see these
swash bars while enjoying a stroll along Siesta/
Crescent Beach as they capture the sand that
otherwise might be transported away.

JANUARY 2019

Importance of the Point of Rocks:
then and today
The age of the Gulf barrier islands has been
determined by radiocarbon dating of carbonaterich sediments. The distinctive midpoint of the
Key known as Point of Rocks is at least 3,000
years old and about 1,000 years older than the
northwestern section where settlements began. It
is the only rocky shoreline on any barrier island
of the entire Gulf Coast and doesn’t have typical
beachrock composition but may have resulted
from a meteor strike.
Geology research also suggests that the Point
of Rocks was part of an earlier barrier island
that became submerged for a period and then
resurfaced as the point of origin for all of Siesta
Key. This protrusion not only accounts for the
crescent shaped beach profile, but it played
a pivotal role as the nucleus for the entire
island and now contributes to the stability of
“America’s Best Beach.”
You can read more about the origin of Florida
in An Illustrated History of Siesta Key: The Story
of America’s Best Beach, which is sold at both
Davidson Drugs stores, Captain Curt’s gift shop,
and Crescent Beach Grocery.

21

Island Visitor Publishing, LLC

Aerial photo from the 1920s showing the multiple beachdune ridges as a result of upward shoaling and swash bar
processes over many centuries that created Siesta Key.
Note the freshly dredged, heart-shaped canal honoring
Eloise Archibald. Courtesy of Sarasota County Historical
Resources with thanks to Larry Kelleher.

South Georgia Rift Basin, an ancient grand
canyon located over the “suture” zone
connecting Florida to North America 200
million years ago.
The canyon filled with water to form the
60-mile-wide by 1000-feet-deep Georgia
Seaway Channel that eventually filled with
Appalachia-derived sand to
complete Florida’s attachment.

The Point of Rocks on 9/10/17 when Irma came and
exposed the nucleus for all of Siesta Key and a crucial
factor in beach stability. Photo by Todd Nahrwold,
Key Solutions Real Estate.

Gulf Gate Barbershop
Making Gulf Gate look good
since the ‘60’s
Bringing over 70 years of life lessons
and local knowledge to your haircut
(trust us, we know alllll about what you did last summer).
It’s not just a haircut, it’s life. We know all about it.
Let’s laugh, have a beer, and talk nonsense….that’s free.
Haircut? That’s gonna cost you…$15, if we like you,
$25 if you’re a P.I.T.A.
“Best Local Barbers” 20 years in the running
Kyle and Scott “to the second power”

6575 Gateway Ave., Sarasota, FL 34231
941-809-9028 Walk-ins Welcome

22

Siesta Sand

JANUARY 2019

941.349.0194

www.siestasand.net

DISCOVER GULF GATE’S SHOPPING VILLAGE

Piccolo Italian Market & Deli (G-47) carries a full line
of imported cheeses, fresh baked bread daily, homemade
sausages, fresh mozzarella, and numerous hard to get
items. They now carry Khorasan Wheat which is an ancient
and organic grain. Their deli is complete with huge hot
and cold sandwiches, salads, fresh homemade lasagna
and baked ziti. And, you cannot leave without trying their
cannoli filled with their own homemade cannoli cream or
the tiramisu or Sfogliatelle from Brooklyn.
Here is where you will find great Italian specialty
gourmet items without the gourmet price.
Tony’s Chicago Beef Company (S-16) is owned and
operated by true Chicagoans. Dedicated to deliver
Chicago’s best food - Chicago style Hot Dogs wit’ the
works... Dragged through the garden on poppy seed
buns with fresh cut fries, Italian Beef Sandwiches anyway
you like, dipped or dry, sweet or hot. All served in true
Authentic Chicago Style.
Sarasota Brewing Co. (G-4) Sarasota’s first micro brew
pub always has something new to offer.
From over 20 seasonal beers that rotate throughout the
year, the Brewing Company always has at least five unique
brews online as well as several favorites from around the
world. Established in 1989, their menu has been a winner
in the Reader’s Choice Awards of the Sarasota Herald
Tribune featuring their mouth watering burgers, Chicago
style Pizzas, and Chicago beef sandwiches. With dozens of
televisions, it’s a great place to catch a game with friends
and family.
1

West End Pub (G-49) Where else can you watch your
favorite game with a great selection of beers, wines, and
liquors served by a friendly staff AND where you’re
allowed to bring your own restaurant or deli food? Right
here.
The Shop SRQ (G-2) Local owners, Erick and Dawn
use a back-to-basics approach to grooming with precise
attention to detail. Their commitment to excellence has
provided them with many loyal customers. Their old
school barber traditions, clean contemporary shop,
coupled with their southern hospitality and humor are
what separates them from the rest. They welcome the
opportunity to earn your trust. Hours: Tues. - Fri. 8:30am
- 6pm, Sat., 8:30am - 3pm. (Nov. 1st - May 30th) and Sat.,
8:30am - 1pm (Jun. 1st - Oct. 31st). Closed on Sundays
and Mondays. 6625 Gateway Ave, 941-626-4894.
At the original Word of Mouth Restaurant (G-31),
every seemingly insignificant detail receives special
attention from the warm, inviting decor to each specially
crafted variety of freshly baked muffins to the signature
menu items. This small diner is where the locals come to
eat breakfast and lunch. Each staff member works hard
to make sure you receive the best service and quality
food so you’ll want to return often. Take a look at their
mouth-watering menu at www.originalwordofmouth.
com. Hours: Mon-Sun.: 8AM-2PM. 6604 Gateway Ave.,
Sarasota, 34231, 941-925-2400.
Pride of the South (S-34) has been awarded Top
Barbeque in Sarasota for 2016 by Trip Advisor and Yelp.
2

Sarasota Pavilion is a popular shopping
destination for numerous locals and visitors
alike. Its prime location is close enough to the
island for frequent trips with a nice selection
of chain stores set in one convenient location.
But what truly lends to the uniqueness of
this district is the host of small, locally
owned, specialty shops, boutiques,
restaurants, and neighborhood bars
bordering this pavilion. It makes for a fun
and rewarding shopping experience.
Over 150 businesses make up this district.

D

HOURS: Monday - Sunday
8:00AM to 2PM
www.originalwordofmouth.com

6

GULF GATE

G-31

941-925-2400

Continued on the next page

4

E

Eat Where
The Locals
Eat!

It has been awarded for the best Southern Hospitality.
Pride of the South has a brisket BLT, hands down, one of
the best sandwiches you ever tasted. The smoked chicken
wings are unbelievable. Backed up with the pulled pork
sandwiches, the smoked bologna, the smoked turkey,
the collard greens, fried corn on the cob, fried okra, fried
green tomatoes, and one of the best mac ‘n cheese you
ever tasted. We do catering with no limit to the size of the
group. Come in and follow your nose to 6616 Superior
Ave, Sarasota, FL 34231. Call (941)926-0099. See you
soon.
One Minute Key Shop (GG-51): Left your keys in the
car? No worries, the One Minute Key Shop will help you
safely unlock and retrieve your keys. They specialize
in high security locks, keys, re-keying, master keying,
and safes for residential, commercial or automotive.
Give them a call at 941-924-8020 or visit their showroom
where they have a large display of locks and safes. 2120
Gulf Gate Drive.
Solorzano’s Late Night Pizzeria (S-32): At every
Solorzano’s, they offer an experience familiar to those
who understand the importance of family and dedication.
Their recipes and techniques have been perfected
through three long generations based on the traditional
simplicity of the methods used by their Italian ancestors.
Dine inside, outside, pick up, or DELIVERY anywhere
on Siesta Key, or in Sarasota until 4:00 a.m. 6670 Superior
Ave., 941-924-5800.

The Siesta Key Condo Council will hold its
annual membership meeting on Jan 15, 3 pm
at the Siesta Key Chapel, 4615 Gleason Ave.
The main speaker is Dan Lobeck, Lobeck &
Hanson Law Firm.

Another vehicle crash reported
At 8:18 p.m. on Dec. 1, a motorcyclist
traveling north on Ocean Boulevard — who
was not wearing a helmet — allegedly hit
a rock or some other type of hard object
protecting a resident’s mailbox, bounced off
of it and landed in the drainage ditch.
A resident who lives near the scene — at
the Gleason Avenue intersection — reported
that the motorcyclist was injured. The
resident had no information about the extent
of those injuries.
Unfortunately, the Sarasota County
Sheriff’s Office did not investigate the
incident, so no report was available from
that office. When the Florida Highway Patrol
handles an incident, as it did in this case, it
does not readily make its reports available.
A reporter has to trek up to Bradenton or
down to Venice several days after the fact

to pay a not inconsiderate sum and collect
a copy of the report.
The resident who shared information
about the incident did opine that it was
lucky for the motorcyclist that the crash did
not occur in the sharp curve just a bit further
north on Ocean Boulevard. That curve has
seen its share of collisions over the years, as
vehicles have failed to follow the road and,
instead, have plowed into a homeowner’s
wall.
After the last crash a few months ago,
that homeowner installed boulders next to
the wall in an effort to prevent future wallbuilding projects.

Improved handicapped access
planned for Beach Access 2
Better beach access on Siesta Key for
handicapped individuals was expected to
be available at Beach Access 2 by Christmas.
During the Nov. 27 County Commission
meeting, Commissioner Charles Hines talked
about the fact that only one handicapped
parking space was designated at Beach
Access 2, which is at the western end of
Avenida Messina. Yet, handicapped people
need easier access to the beach, Hines said.

Incoming County Commission Chair
Hines was referring to county staff’s year-long
negotiations with the Florida Department of
Transportation (FDOT) to transfer county authority
over River Road to the state in exchange for the
county’s assuming control of roads on Siesta Key.
Under state administration, River Road will have a
higher priority for widening and other improvements
that the county has sought for decades as a state road,
FDOT staff has explained.
As for the Diverging Diamond: Hines mentioned
that major FDOT traffic project during the Siesta
Promenade hearing, noting that Benderson
Development had worked with the county to push for
the construction to decrease congestion at Interstate
75’s interchange with University Parkway.
Hines continued in the Dec. 13 email, “It is
undisputed that there is truly a public safety issue with
getting on and off Siesta Key and the backing up and
blocking of the US 41 intersection.” He added that,
the previous day, he and Commissioner Alan Maio
“mentioned a few options … regarding the bridge
and the intersection. To my knowledge a fly-over
or underpass haven’t been used in Sarasota County
at this type of intersection for vehicles,” he added.
“However they have been in other areas to address
intersections such as this one.”
Hines continued, “We obviously need the help of
FDOT, the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning
Organization, the private sector in and around this
intersection and the residents of and those who
frequent Siesta Key beach and island businesses
to help design a more aesthetically pleasing, safe
and walkable/bikeable intersection. If downtown
Baltimore and Times Square can redesign their major
downtown intersections,” he added, “I believe we can
do the same.”
Hines concluded his Dec. 13 email, “The changes in
our building codes that are encouraging mixed-use

As a result, he continued, the county’s
Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources
Department staff had been taking a look at
ways to improve the situation. “Hopefully,
they come back with some ideas.”
In response to a question following up on
those comments, county Media Relations
Officer Ashley Lusby wrote in a Dec. 4
email that staff members in the Capital
Projects Division of the Public Works
Department met on Dec. 3 to discuss options
for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
parking at Beach Access 2. “Capital Projects
will be providing concept plans later this
week and hope to complete the new plan
prior to the Christmas holiday,” Lusby
added.
Complaints about inadequate beach access
for handicapped individuals arose during
public comments to the board on Aug. 29.
Angela Briguglio, who uses a wheelchair,
talked about the limitations on Siesta Key for
people like her. She also noted the solitary
handicapped parking space at Avenida
Messina, adding that many community
residents have mobility issues. “Does that
mean one handicapped person can go to the
beach there?”
She told the board that persons with

disabilities in Sarasota County “seem to be
an invisible demographic.”
Avenida Messina ends right at the beach,
making it a more logical choice for improved
access options, she indicated.
“There’s no place left in Sarasota County
to meet the ADA requirements for beach
access,” she told the commissioners. “It’s
your job to protect those rights for me.”

What happened to the paid
beach parking discussion?
In early July, shortly before the County
Commission began its traditional summer
vacation, Carolyn Brown, who still was
director of the Parks, Recreation and Natural
Resources Department, provided an update
on staff research into paid parking options
for Siesta Public Beach.
At the suggestion of Chair Nancy Detert,
the commissioners agreed that they really
needed to hold a half-day workshop to delve
into all the relevant issues and come up with
decisions.
Perhaps September or October would be
a good time for such a workshop, Detert
added.
Continued on page 32

Continued from cover story

and urban redevelopment may cause the owners of
property at the other quadrants at this intersection
of U.S. 41 and Stickney Point Road to rethink their
plans. As we are trying to encourage walkability in
our urban areas retrofitting this intersection to allow
for that may be a plan that our entire community can
support.”

to move back and forth between Siesta Promenade and Sarasota Pavilion
and Gulf Gate.
Crosswalks are in place at the intersection, Wiggins replied. However,
as an extra safety measure, she said, “grade separation facilities” would
be preferable. Later, she explained that she was referring to constructing
one part of the road over the other.

The possibilities
During the Siesta Promenade public hearing,
Hines asked a number of questions of Wiggins of
Transportation Planning. “Talk to me a little bit about
the idea,” he said, that allowing increased density
in a Critical Area Plan (CAP) project, such as Siesta
Promenade, implies that the community will promote
walkability.
“If I’m staying in this hotel Benderson Development
plans in Siesta Promenade and want to go across the
street” to a restaurant, he added, “that intersection is
just horrible; it is not walkable.”
Hines asked Wiggins to explain to him how people
would be expected to walk from Siesta Promenade to
the commercial centers on the other three quadrants
of the intersection.
Wiggins replied that the Benderson Development
project team had to show the project would offer
multimodal connections — walking and biking — to
those areas around it. Still, Wiggins acknowledged,
“It is very difficult to cross, given the amount of time
allowed pedestrians at the traffic signals.”
When one factors in the reality that some people
walk more slowly than others, she continued, “That
is something that is still going to be difficult.”
Pedestrian overpasses, she said, are probably the
solution. “That’s what would have to occur … to get
people from one side to the other.”
Hines asked her whether staff discussed with the
Benderson project team the need for people to be able

DISCOVER GULF GATE’S SHOPPING VILLAGE

Continued from the previous page

October of 2014. Their latest
offerings is a CBD Boutique
area featuring hundreds of
hemp and CBD products. Wild
Ginger Apothecary also offers
classes and workshops for a
variety of audiences on topics

MORE THAN 100 OPTIONS
TO NATURALLY RELIEVE YOUR
PAIN, ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION
• The largest and most reliable CBD selection
in Sarasota - with over 100 affordable CBD
options for your family - and pets!
• FREE one-on-one consultations with
health experts
• Legal in all 50 states and available
without prescription
6557 SUPERIOR AVENUE
SARASOTA, FL • 34231

COMMUNITY FOR
HEALTH + WELLNESS

23

Continued from page 15

Condo Council January
membership meeting

Wild Ginger Apothecary has
been successfully providing
sustainable, ethically produced,
and nontoxic products for
beauty, home and nutrition
to
the
health
conscious
consumers of Sarasota since

Island Visitor Publishing, LLC

OPEN TUESDAY – FRIDAY 10-6 PM
SATURDAY 10-4 PM

941.312.5630
WILDGINGERAPOTHECARY.COM

that cover lifestyle, creativity,
health, and more in the Studio
+ Lounge.
Z6557 Superior
Ave.
941-312-5630,
www.
woldgingerapothecary.com
Gulf Gate Barber Shop
has been an institution in the
community for years, owned
by Kyle Flannery. The superclean barbershop’s clientele is
comprised of primarily men,
but the shop services children as
well.
If you have been a longtime
patron of the former Siesta Key
Village Barber Shop Scott Reich,
you can find him here.
The
two
barbers
bring
over 70 years of knowledge
to your haircut. See their ad
in centerspread pages of this
edition. 6675 Gateway Ave in
Gulf Gate, 941-809-9028.

What is it about the New Year that fills us with such hope and
optimism? There’s just something about releasing all the heavy
baggage of the previous year and turning our gaze forward to
a fresh start that somehow makes everything seem possible.
One man who knows full well the joy of a new opportunity
is musician Chris Connolly; he had a spiritual experience
... sort of a divine intervention ... in healing from addiction.
Refocused now on his ongoing spiritual journey and his music,
2019 is spread out before him like a smorgasbord of wonderful
learnings and choices. He describes his performance music (for
when it’s just him and his classic ‘65 Gretsch up on stage) as
“a variety of upbeat and easy classic rock and jazz.” Which
certainly seems appropriate considering the choices he’s made
in life.
Born in the Bronx, Chris settled here in Florida after a lot of
moving around. He’d lived out west for a while in Arizona and
Texas, spent some time in Colorado, and also in Washington
State. When as part of his healing he drifted down to Florida,
that was that, he never left; the vacation turned into residency in
a new state and it just seemed meant to be. That was five years
ago and appears to have been a good decision as life fell into
place as smoothly as if the move had been carefully planned.
Chris’s musical career also fell into place. His mom had
gotten piano lessons for him when he was a young boy and
then ... like many teenagers ... he discovered rock and roll and
switched to guitar. The instrument was a gift ... for a birthday or
Christmas, he can’t recall which ... but he took to it right away
and is totally self-taught.
Once settled here in Florida he quickly met and made friends
with several of the local musicians, one of whom asked him
to come play lead guitar for him. This turned out to be an
unexpected break in a rather strange way: as time went by his
friend was not able to make the gigs, leaving Chris to take them
over. As a result his friend’s agent contacted Chris and offered
more opportunities to play. And just like that, Chris Connolly
had a new home state and a very satisfying new career that was
his alone. He savored his new surroundings and friendships,
often sitting in at gigs and jamming with the guys he met.
By now, some places were becoming especially comfortable
favorites of his.
One particular room where he feels very at home and has had
successful repeat engagements is the Siesta Key Wine Bar in
Siesta Village (5138 Ocean Boulevard), which is locally owned
and operated by the Gamble family. Chris is proud to have
been tapped as their musician of choice for an upcoming special

CLUB
BLASE CAFÉ
In the Village
941-349-9822
DAIQUIRI DECK RAW BAR
In the Village
941‐349‐8697

event this month: The Wine Bar has undergone an impressive
major renovation and is gearing up to celebrate with neighbor
businesses (Local Chill Ice Cream, Swell Things, and the new
Island House restaurant) in a ribbon cutting party. The event
is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, January 9, from 5 to 7
p.m., and yes, Chris Connolly will be the featured entertainer
for this early evening group event, after which the celebration
continues in the Wine Room Bar.
Asked about his own preferences in music, Chris says he
really loves a lot of different styles and genres, but finds himself
particularly drawn to the “more complex forms,” chief among
his favorites being jazz/rock fusion. Considering that he’s lived
a pretty varied and complex life, it makes a lot of sense. But
when playing for others, he thoroughly enjoys performing
music that makes the audience feel happy and uplifted. “And I
love audience participation,” he says. He’d also like it if some of
his fellow musicians who enjoy performing this style of music
to feel free to drop in at his gigs and sit in with him.
2019 looks to be a year in which Chris Connolly’s approach to
music and his life will be in synch: it’s all good.

Above information is subject to change. We suggest calling venues for confirmation.

www.siestasand.net

941.349.0194

JANUARY 2019

Island Humor
While on a car trip, an elderly
couple stopped at a roadside
restaurant for lunch. After finishing
their meal, the elderly woman left
her glasses on the table, but she
didn’t miss them until they were
back on the highway. By then,
they had to travel quite a distance
before they could find a place to
turn around.
The elderly man fussed and
complained all the way back to
the restaurant. He called his wife
every bad name he could think of.
When they finally arrived at the
restaurant, and the woman got out
of the car to retrieve her glasses,
the man yelled to her, “And while
you’re in there, you might as well
get my hat, too!”
Alan and Michael are bungeejumping one day. Alan says to
Mike, “You know, we could make
a lot of money running our own
bungee jumping service in Mexico.”
Mike thinks this is a great idea,
so they pool their money and buy
everything they’ll need; a Tower,
an elastic cord, insurance, etc. They
travel to Mexico and begin to set up

on the square.
As they are constructing the
tower a crowd begins to assemble.
Slowly, more and more people
gather to watch them work. When
they had finished, there was such
a crowd they thought it would be a
good idea to give a demonstration.
So Mike jumps.
He bounces at the end of the
cord, but when he comes back up,
Alan notices that he has a few cuts
and scratches. Unfortunately, Alan
isn’t able to catch him, and he falls
again, bounces again and comes
back up again.
This time he is bruised and
bleeding. Again Alan misses him.
Mike falls again and bounces back
up. This time he comes back pretty
messed up. He’s got a couple
of broken bones and is almost
unconscious.
Luckily Alan catches him this
time and says, “What happened?
Was the cord too long?”
Barely able to speak, Michael
gasps, “No, the bungee cord was
fine. It was the crowd... WHAT
THE HECK IS A PIÑATA?”
A frog telephoned the Psychic

HOTTEST BAR
IN GULF GATE...
MLB/College Packages
FULL BAR

6500 Gateway Ave • 941.554.8905

Hotline and was told, “You are
going to meet a beautiful young
woman who will want to know
everything about you.”
The frog said, “That’s great! Will
I meet her at a party, or what?”
“No,” said the psychic, “Next
semester in her biology class.”
Ever Wonder...
Why the sun lightens our hair,
but darkens our skin?
Why don’t you ever see the
headline “Psychic Wins Lottery”?
Why is it that doctors call what
they do “practice”?
Why is lemon juice made with
artificial flavor, and dishwashing
liquid made with real lemons?

Island Visitor Publishing, LLC

25

Gilligan’s Island Bar & Grill
5253 Ocean Blvd Siesta Key
Get in here and “Get your Island on!”
You find yourself wandering into Siesta Key Village after an epic day
on the #1 Beach in the USA, sandy feet and salty skin, searching for
shade and refreshment. You wander right into Gilligan’s Island Bar &
Grill and you couldn’t have picked a better spot. Founded in 2001, they
have plenty of experience with making sure both locals and visitors are
having the time of their lives.
They pride themselves in offering the best quality of foods, cocktails,
service, atmosphere and local entertainment on the Key. Come on in
and check them out for yourselves.

An engineer, of the Harley
Davidson Motorcycle Corporation,
died and went to heaven.
At the gates, St. Peter told him,
“Since you’ve been such a good
man and your motorcycles have
changed the world, your reward
is, you can hang out with anyone
you want in Heaven.”
The Engineer thought about it
for a minute and then said, “I want
to hang out with God.”
St. Peter took him to the Throne
Room, and introduced him to God.
He then asked God, “Hey, aren’t
you the inventor of woman?”
God said, “Ah, yes.”
“Well,” said the engineer,
“professional to professional, you
have some major design flaws in
your invention.
1. There’s too much inconsistency
in the front-end protrusion.
2. It chatters constantly at high
speeds.
3. Most of the rear ends are too
soft and wobble too much.
4. The intake is placed way to
close to the exhaust.
And finally,
5. The maintenance costs are
outrageous.”
“Hmmmm, you may have some
good points there,” replied God,
“hold on.”
God went to his Celestial super
computer, typed in a few words
and waited for the results. The
computer printed out a slip of
paper and God read it.
“Well, it may be true that my
invention is flawed,” God said
to the engineer, “but according
to these numbers, more men
are riding my invention than
yours.”

Siesta Key visitors can enjoy the challenge of a river snook fishing charter

January fishing in Sarasota is all about the weather, pure and simple.
Angling success is determined by the ability to adapt to the existing
weather conditions. Tides will often times be very low in the morning.
Couple that with a northeast wind and the flats will not have very much
water on them. Water temperatures will be at their annual low. It is time
to change tactics!
I spend a lot of my time fishing the area around Siesta Key in the
winter. Both passes and the surrounding flats will be productive under
ideal conditions. Weekly fronts will stir up the Gulf, bringing cold, dirty
water in through the passes and up onto the nearby flats. However, the
area down south stays protected, and this will result in better fishing.
Extreme low tides will force the fish off of the flats and into the channel.
This actually makes locating them easier. 1/4 ounce Bass Assassin jigs in
New Penny and Glow are very productive, as is a shrimp free lined with a
small split shot. Speckled trout, ladyfish, jack crevelle, and pompano will
be the primary catches, but sheepshead, grouper, flounder, and bluefish
will also be found in the deep water.
As the tide rises and the day warms up, fish will move out of the deep
channel and up onto the flats to feed. A late Afternoon high tide can offer
great fishing for speckled trout, with jigs and live shrimp under a popping
cork producing a lot of action. The flats south of Spanish Point are very
productive, but any flat in four to six feet of water with grass will hold
fish, keep moving until you find them.
Creeks and residential canals are great spots to fish this month. Besides
offering protection from harsh winds, they provide cover for bait, which
attracts fish, and the water is normally a few degrees warmer. A large hand
picked shrimp is a great bait for redfish, snook, sheepshead, drum, and
jacks. Deeper water is the key, find a dock or area in a creek with a little
more depth and there should be fish there. Rapala X-Raps are a terrific
artificial bait to use in creeks. They are deadly on snook and jacks, and a
lot of water can be covered quickly.
Local rivers such as the Manatee, Braden, and Myakka will hold
snook, jacks, and even bass in January. Fish move up there to keep warm
and feed. This is a unique fishing experience that is best suited for more
experienced anglers.
Surf casters will do well off of the Siesta Key beaches during periods of
light winds when the water is clear. Small pieces of live or frozen shrimp
fished on a small hook with a bit of weight will catch plenty of whiting,
along with trout, flounder, pompano, and other species. Jigs and silver
spoons are effective artificial baits to use, especially when surface activity
is seen, this indicates feeding fish.

JANUARY 2019

27

Island Visitor Publishing, LLC

Notes from the Island Fishmonger
Happy New Year & Welcome to 2019!
I hope for nothing but a healthy and happy
year for us all. The New Year inspires many
of us to make resolutions to set new goals and
improve on our flaws. I have never been a big fan
of the New Year’s resolution because I’ve never
seriously stuck to my plan. The way I see it, if you
need a change in your life, every day is a good day
to make that change. Even though I’m not a big fan
of it, every year I (as many others) set one realistic
and attainable goal that will have beneficial health
and financial results and always look forward
to feeling the gratification of obtaining my goal
(when I actually stick to it and obtain it).
This year I’m sure I will stick to my plan
because this year my New Year’s Resolution is.....
wait for it...... to eat more soup!
Not just any soup but healthy, inexpensive,
delicious, hearty soups that are packed with
fresh seafood and vegetables in every bite. What
could go wrong? This time of year I think a lot
about soup. You know, chilis, Cajun gumbos and
jambalayas, clam chowders, clear fish chowders,
seafood stews and my favorite, cioppino. These
cooler months produce great soup eating weather
to make you feel warm and comfortable on the
inside. To me that is the definition of comfort food.
Chowder is a seafood or vegetable stew often
served with milk or heavy cream, a tomato base
or a simple fish or vegetable stock. Following
are some primary variants and different style of
chowders.
New England clam chowder is a milk or cream
based chowder and is traditionally of a thicker
consistency and commonly made with chopped
potatoes, celery, onions, and chopped clams. I
make a similar version only I add bacon for flavor,
corn for some color and chopped carrots for the
crunch. Serve with oyster crackers, green onion
garnish and hot sauce.
Of all the chowders, Manhattan clam chowder
always seems to get a bad rap. Either you love it
or you hate it. Apparently baseball is not the only
rival between Boston and New York as this tomato
based chowder is not only shunned in Boston
but in 1939 a bill was introduced in the Maine
legislature making chowders with tomatoes illegal.
Personally I prefer a red based chowder over a
cream based any day. They are much healthier as
the cream adds many calories and you have many
more options of ways to flavor and thicken.
Clear chowder is a chowder made strictly with
a clear fish stock, fresh herbs, vegetables and some
kind of a local fresh whitefish. Here in Florida we
use Grouper.
Cioppino and tomato based fish stews are
my favorites. Cioppino is an Italian-American
dish originating in San Francisco, CA. Cioppino
supposedly originated on Italian fishing boats
in the 1800’s. This stew was made on the boats
while out at sea for the fishermen to eat. The name
Cioppino means “to chop” referring to the process
of making the stew by chopping up various
leftovers of the days catch.

In the upcoming winter and spring months
look for all these stews and chowders at your Big
Water Fish Market and feel free to call us ahead of
time to make a special batch just for you and your
family/friends. Here’s a hearty stew recipe if you
wish to make your own.

Seafood Stew (serves 4-6)
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 10 peeled and seeded Roma tomatoes cut into
chunks (or you can use 1 can of diced tomatoes)
• 4 crushed and diced garlic gloves
• 2 large Bay leaves
• 2 stalks chopped celery
• 1 whole diced onion
• Fresh or dried thyme, oregano, parsley and/or
Italian seasoning
• 2 quarts of fish stock (homemade or buy from Big
Water Fish Market or bouillon cubes are always a
good substitute)
• 8 chopped red skin potatoes
• 2 peeled and chopped carrots
• 1 pound of Grouper skinned, deboned and cut
into thick cubes
• 16 Gulf Shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 16 medium sized Scallops
• 12 Florida Clams
• 12 Florida Mussels
I usually start off by heating the oil in a sauce pan.
Sauté bay leaves, chopped garlic, chopped onion,
chopped celery and fresh tomatoes for about 5
minutes. Stir and when the tomatoes begin to
soften add fresh herbs and lightly salt & pepper (I
like to layer my soups with a light seasoning each
time you add more ingredients opposed to adding
all your seasoning at one time. Just be careful not
to add too much salt as some seafood like Clams
will add a salty brine to the mix and taste as you
go.) Add your fish stock and bring to a boil. Add
your potatoes and carrots and simmer for 15-20
minutes until potatoes are fork-tender. Now you
add your fish and clams. When the clams open you
add your shrimp and mussels and stir gently and
cook for 2 minutes then turn off and serve with red
or white wine. You can cook the soup base longer
if you wish but do not overcook the seafood.
By making a few changes such as leaving out
the potatoes & carrots and using less tomatoes
you will then have a version of cioppini or add
more seafood totaling 7 different kinds of seafood
(Fish, shrimp, clams, mussels, crab, scallops, and
octopus) and you have a version of “The dish of 7
fish” stew that is a Friday tradition for many until
Easter. These are available at BWFM for special
orders with a 24 hour notice.
Know our soup of the day by following us on
Facebook or by signing up for our weekly e-mail at
www.bigwaterfishmarket.com.
Live well...Eat fish
Scott Dolan, Big Water Fish Market
6641 Midnight Pass, Siesta Key,
941-554-8101

Let’s go sailing, KATHLEEN D Sailing Catamarans, serving Siesta
Key from 3 locations: Downtown Sarasota, Longboat Key, and Anna
Maria Island. If you would like to experience being on the water
viewing Dolphin Watches, Sunset Sails, Snorkeling and Shelling
call us at 941-870-4349 or go to our web site for detailed information
www.kathleend.net USCG Certified for 20 passengers.

Is the Holiday Season really over?
Have you eaten all of the 25 itty bitty pieces of chocolate
that were in your Advent Calendar? Did the 12 days of
Christmas flash past and you never saw even one partridge
in a pear tree, let alone eight maids a-milking? Have all your
hanukkah candles burned down? Well, twenty-five pieces
of chocolate really is too fattening (especially if you ate
them all on the first day of Christmas), twelve drummers
drumming would give anyone a headache, and cleaning
wax off a tablecloth is a real chore. So, how to extend the
holidays for a few more months while really enjoying it all?
How about celebrating the arts during January, February
and March?
Seven local artists are having an open house (open
houses?) on January 5th, February 2nd and March 2nd. You
may go to their joint website at Sarasotavisualartistsstudios.
com, to find out where their studios are located. Then, if you
wish to proceed further, you may visit any, some, or all of
them on any of those dates between 11 am and 4 pm.
Who are these local artists and what kind of art do they
create? If, when you’ve been reading local magazines, you’ve
seen outstanding photos of people, places and things, odds
are that you’ve already seen the art of photographer Barbara
Banks. Been to some of the exhibitions in the lobby of the
Art Ovation hotel? Then you might have seen the work of
Bill Buchman (or heard him there, he plays a mean jazz
piano). Visited art galleries in Naples or Miami? Dasha
Reich exhibits her colorful, multi-layered works of art in
those cities. Been in stunning office buildings or homes
lately - they may have been designed by Michael Halflants.
One of the nice things about following an artist is that
their work is ever changing: Picasso had his Blue, Rose,
African Art, Analytic Cubism, Synthetic Cubism, Surrealism,
etc. periods (two different periods of cubism - Wow, who
knew?) Dali went through Realism, Surrealism, Cubism,
Dada, and Modern. And so it goes. Artists either get bored
doing the same thing over and over, or they are intrigued
by something and go off on a tangent. Either way, they are
always doing something new.
Visit the artists’ studios, a couple at a time over the next
few months, and spread out the joy.

Ah, but then the question is
always, which edge is sharper?
In January, two theaters are
presenting cutting edge plays.
Florida Studio Theatre’s Stage 3
Series at the Bowne’s Lab Theatre
on 2nd Street is presenting
Robert Askins’ Hand to God,
January 16th - February 8th - and
the Urbanite, also on 2nd Street,
is showcasing Jennifer Fawcett’s
Apples in Winter, from January
11th - February 17th. There is
nothing like puppets and apple
pie to make one think of the good
times in old time America.
Well, think again. Tyrone, the Stage 3 hand puppet in
Hand to God, starts off well enough, in the basement of a
church in a small town in Texas. Well enough for Jason,
whose hand Tyrone sits upon. But, as with so many
creatures, Tyrone begins to have a mindlessness of his
own. Spoiler Alert: the playwright took part in a hand
puppet ministry in a small town in Texas, so he kind of
knows what he is writing about. While some theatergoers
like the heady experience of an Off Broadway show, others
prefer the solid acclaim of a Tony nominated Broadway hit.
Hooray for everyone - Hand to God’s two Off Broadway
productions were in 2011 and 2014 while it ran in its
Broadway production at the Booth Theatre in 2015 (5 Tony
nominations including Best New Play). Isn’t it really great
the way Sarasota gets real New York hits with top actors,
play after play?
The sun rises late and sets early in winter, which is
fitting, as Apples in Winter is a bit noir - just right for the
season. One really couldn’t call this play a culinary thriller
but it is about a mother who bakes a pie for a killer. It could
be called a “Yes,but” play - something happens and we do
form definite opinions. Then more information is provided
and we go “Yes, but”. Sort of like real life where nothing
is really black and white, just various shades of gray. This
is the kind of play that stretches our fixed beliefs - until
something snaps.
Awards. Did we mention awards? Both of these
playwrights have been nominated for, and have won, all
kinds of awards, including some you haven’t even heard
of - like the National Science Playwriting Award. But wait,
this is not some hokey little prize, it was from the Kennedy
Center in Washington. More information about both plays
at Urbanitetheatre.com and/or at Floridastudiotheatre.org.

An empty calendar?
It’s the beginning of the new year, but that doesn’t
mean you need to have an empty calendar. Really, it’s
time to start filling it up. Besides visual art and theatre,
Sarasota is known for its music. The problem is, too many

people know of it and a number of the
Sarasota Orchestra and Chamber Series
dates are already sold out. The solution
- check their web site for available
performances - Sarasotaorchestra.
org. Currently the following January and February
performance dates are still available. January 4-6, the
Orchestra performs Mendelssohn’s lovely Overture
to A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Schumann’s Spring
Symphony and Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto, No. 1;
January 17-20 brings back Emanuel Ax (Sarasota loves
him) playing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with
the Orchestra. Verdi and Prokofiev’s Symphony No.
5 are also on the program; January 31-February 3 has
violinist Viviane Hagner playing on both Saint-Saëns’
Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso and Vieuxtemps
Concerto No. 5. Gershwin, Barber and Bernstein round
out this evening with the Orchestra; One of the Orchestra’s
upcoming special events takes place on February 9th
when members of the Orchestra join forces with the
Sarasota Youth Philharmonic at Neel Auditorium. They
will be playing works by Beethoven, Haydn (his cello
concerto), Tchaikovsky and Dvořák; Glowing chamber
works performed in the late afternoon of February 10th
(Telemann’s Quartet in D Minor and Vivaldi’s The Four
Seasons) should let you out in time for a glowing sunset
across Sarasota Bay, as the sun drops down over Longboat
Key; February 21-24 has the Orchestra performing seven
different showstoppers - probably to showcase the
conductor (Anu Tali) - as she cranks out hits by Glinka,
Strauss, Mascagni, Grieg, Dvořák, Glazunov and Ravel
(his Boléro, what else). Probably some nice encores as well.
February ends (on the 28th) with a Chamber evening with
a Dvořák trio (Terzetto) and a chamber orchestra piece Mozart’s Serenade in B-Flat Major (Gran Partita).
What to do when performances of the chamber series
are sold out? Not what we should do, but what they,
the Orchestra administration, should do. Two solutions
come to mind. Perhaps hold some performances at the
Riverview Performing Arts Center or Neel Auditorium
(the Orchestra does), both are really nice venues. Or
simply schedule additional performances a day or so later
- and, since more tickets will be sold, pay the chamber
players a bit more.

We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of this information.
However, please be sure to always call ahead to confirm dates, times, location, and other information.
WEEKLY BEACH CLASSES:
• FREE T’AI CHI CHIH - Siesta Beach,
Access #5 - Every Monday, 15 minutes
before sunset. Open to all, no experience
necessary. Contact Diana Daffner 941346-1024 for information. (Access #5 is
in Siesta Village, where Beach Rd. meets
Ocean Blvd.)
• FREE YOGA - Mon.-Wed.-Fri.-Sat.
9 a.m. Classes held between blue and
green lifeguard station. Call 941-320-6693
to register or go to website for more info.
www.yogaonsiestabeach.com/about
• NIA - Tues. & Thurs., 9 a.m., Siesta
Public Beach (yellow lifeguard chair).
Contact Kathy Oravec at 941-724-9719
for more info or check website:
www.nianow.com/kathy-oravec
• SIESTA KEY BEACH HOOP JAMS –
Every Tuesday one hour before Sunset on
Siesta Key beach we gather for a community
Hoop Jam. (Between the red lifeguard
stand and the pavilion; around where the
Sunday drum circle happens.) Register at:
www.outwardspiral.net
• YOGA ON TURTLE BEACH –
Tuesdays, 8:30-9:30 am, starting December
4, 2018. Residents and visitors on the
south end of Siesta Key can enjoy AllLevels Yoga through April 9, 2019. For
more information about location or
registration, please e-mail Julie at: julie@
chesapeakeyoga.com

WEEKLY DRUM CIRCLE:
• Every Sunday about an hour before
sunset. South of the main pavilion. You
can participate or watch this weekly
gathering and dance, hoop, play the drum
or other musical instrument, and enjoy the
spectacular Siesta sunset.
On The Beach…
• JANUARY 1 (TUES) 7-11AM/ NEW
YEAR’S DAY FUN RUN: Manasota Track
Club get together. Join your MTC family
with a New Year’s Day fun run (walk,
stumble, whatever) and potluck at the
beach. Meet at the pavilion, then head to
the beach. Members only event.
• JANUARY 6 (SUN) 7-11 AM
ANNUAL
ANDREW
MONROE
MEMORIAL 5K RUN/WALK: Timed
Run, 8:20 - 1 mile fun walk. This event was
established to honor the life of Andrew
Monroe. Proceeds benefit senior soccer
players at Riverview High School in
Sarasota. Senior, girls and boys, soccer
players have the opportunity to receive
scholarships through an essay process.
For more information or to sign-up for the
race, go to: www.andrewmonroe.com
Around the island…
• WEEKLY FARMER’S MARKET
IN THE VILLAGE: Every Sunday from
8am – 1pm in Davidson’s Plaza in the
Village. 5124 Ocean Blvd. Produce, Plants
& Flowers, Music, Art, Organic Skincare,
Italian Olive Oil, and Freshly Prepared
Foods. Listen to live music while you shop.

• JANUARY 25 (FRI)
11AM /
SARASOTA GARDEN CLUB SHIVOO
MONTE CARLO FASHION SHOW:
This SHIVOO Monte Carlo Fashion Show
brings a bit of Monte Carlo flavor to the
Sarasota Hyatt Ballroom for a Friday
Fashion luncheon. This exciting event
begins with a silent auction and social hour,
opportunity for selfies and photos by Rick,
vendor table shopping, drinks and hors
d’oeuvres. Music will fill the halls. There
will be fashion, color, music, cocktails,
a chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree
at Foxy Lady on St. Armands. We have
a silent auction including 009 trips from
our AMFund 007 Sponsor and of course,
the opportunity to support our local
community.
Visit the website, SarasotaGardenClub.
org for more information, to get tickets,
and to sponsor! Don’t miss this one! It is
NOT your average fashion show. Let’s
Shivoo!
• KIDS RHYTHM JAM!™ – 11:30AM:
Drumming Fun For Everyone!™ . Every
Saturday and Tuesday. Everyone gets
permission to play and make noise to create
rhythm and song! Come & enjoy group
drumming with your family and friends.
$15/family - Positive RePercussions 5049
Ocean Blvd., Siesta Key Village - (941)
677-3786. Please check out our wide
variety of other programs at: www.
positiverepercussions.com/calendar
• JANUARY 19 (SAT) 3-6PM FLY
FISHING SCHOOL: CB’s Saltwater
Outfitters, 1249 Stickney Point Rd,

Sarasota, FL has announced dates for their
Orvis-Endorsed fly fishing schools for the
upcoming fall through spring timeframe;
Jan 19, Feb. 23, Mar. 16, and Apr 13,
2019. Located on Siesta Key, the schools
will cover fly casting basics, line control,
shooting line and the roll cast. Instructors,
Capt. Rick Grassett and Capt. Ed Hurst, will
also cover leader construction, fly selection
and saltwater fly fishing techniques.
The course, designed for beginning and
intermediate fly casters, will focus on basics
but also work with intermediate casters on
correcting faults and improving casting
skills. Cost for the schools, which will run
from 8:30 AM to 2 PM, is $195 per person
and includes the use of Orvis fly tackle and
lunch. Contact CB’s Saltwater Outfitters at
(941) 349-4400 or info@cbsoutfitters.com to
make reservations.
And Beyond…
• PALM AVENUE FIRST FRIDAY
GALLERY WALK / 6-9PM:
Every month local galleries open their
doors to the public for the evening, offering
a chance to meet with artists and admire
their work. See website for location map.
http://palmavenue.org/
• TOWLES COURT THIRD FRIDAY
ARTWALKS / 5-9PM: Gallery and studio
openings on a moonlit evening of fun and
beauty- both natural and handcrafted
beauty. Free music, events, refreshments.
Meet the artists, shop and dine in authentic
“ Old Florida” in downtown Sarasota.
1938 Adams Lane Sarasota, Florida 34236.
http://www.towlescourt.com/index.htm

www.siestasand.net

941.349.0194

JANUARY 2019

Your Monthly Horoscope
a time to be extra future-minded.
Make sure any changes will stand
the test of time (not trendiness).
Will a new home support “aging
in place?” And make sure your
partner is 100 percent in synch
before you paint a single wall!
SCORPIO (October 23–
November 21): Thinking and
talking are great, but they aren’t
doing! You’re ready to hit the
gas on some personal goals,
but “someone” might be more
interested in discussing them
than supporting you in actually
working on them. Your co-ruler
Mars is blasting ahead in trailblazing Aries, setting
your mind on fire! The trick is staying motivated even
if you have to roll this out in phases.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22–December 21):
Ever since your ruler, Jupiter, entered Sagittarius
last November (for the first time in 12 years), you’ve
felt like you could accomplish anything. And that’s
true—with an asterisk. Now comes the “heavy lifting,”
where you have to put in the elbow grease. Get that
big dream into sharp focus, figure out the steps you
have to take, make sure the funds are there, then put
the pedal to the metal!
CAPRICORN (December 22–January 19): You wait
all year for “Capricorn season:” Now that it’s here,
are you clear on your top few objectives? In addition
to the Sun in your sign, there are at least three other
planets turbo-charging your goals all month, with
January 2nd and 11th being particularly galvanizing.
You already know that slow and steady will win the
race. Now you can add a “pedal-assist” to get you
there even faster!
AQUARIUS (January 20–February 18): The thing
about holidays is, sometimes you need another week
to recover from them! This month, a team of planets
are hunkered down in your R+R zone, urging you to
decompress. You’re a social creature, but even you
need your downtime. January offers the chance for
just that. Walk on the beach, hike local preserves,
garden, meditate. This way, your batteries will be
fully recharged in time for lively “Aquarius season,”
which begins on the 20th.
PISCES (February 19–March 20): Your network is
your net worth! January is all about socializing—for
fun and professional advancement. This is a boom
time for your career or raising your profile in the
community, whether for yourself or a cause you’re
involved in. You could hit on a new income stream,
possibly involving artistic pursuits. It’s a great time
to travel or plan an epic trip for later in the year.
Suzanne Gerber (www.starsandstoneshealing.com)
is a locally based intuitive astrologer, shamanic/energy
practitioner and spiritual life coach. She works at Wild
Ginger Apothecary in Gulf Gate on Friday afternoons on
a drop-in basis and is available for private in-person and
phone sessions by appointment.

By Suzanne Gerber
ARIES (March 21–April 19): You’ll
be firing on all cylinders with your
passionate ruler, Mars, marching
through your sign all month.
This gives you all the energy and
motivation you need to tackle a big
project that got sidelined over the
holidays. On the 6th, Uranus ends
a five-month retrograde in your
sign that might have thrown a few
wrenches your way. Now you don’t
have to duck: You can outrun Uranus
and the competition!
TAURUS (April 20–May 20): No
more procrastinating! Leap out of
your comfort zone and into something
you talk about but never get around to. With your
house of adventure, travel and education on fire,
those areas may take on a new urgency. You can do
something transformative on the 11th—and if you
need a little push, ask for it! The week of the 21st kicks
off a great month for your career, especially any new
initiatives.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20): You may feel torn
between enjoying an active social life and spending
more time alone—in nature or with your partner. You
can strengthen all kinds of significant relationships.
For singles, it’s an excellent month for trying new
approaches to meeting people, especially on the
6th and 11th. At work and socially, make a point of
listening to people more. They might be feeling more
sensitive than they’re letting on.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): You’ll be as lonely as
you want to be this month! With half the sky piled into
your relationship zone in future-oriented Capricorn,
you’re thinking about the long haul. Single? Discuss
your goals with serious prospects, and don’t shy away
from asking questions about their financial footing.
Solid couples might enjoy renewing their vows or
planning a “special-anniversary” trip for later in the
year. This bodes well for business partnerships, too.
LEO (July 23–August 22): January is a time for rest,
renewal and dealing with any health issues you’ve
let slide. Feeling fit as a fiddle? You can get more
competitive in sports or hobbies, or learn a healing
technique to help others. Give yourself the gift of selfcare with massages, acupuncture or whatever you’re
drawn to. This is a great month to volunteer and offer
your services—pro bono if you’re in a position to.
VIRGO (August 23-September 22): You’re a
practical earth sign, so even your “fun” needs to be
somewhat practical—definitely not frivolous! But
with a pileup of planets in your playful, creative and
romantic zone all month, you might just break your
own mold. Dating or spending quality time with your
S.O. is priority number one, and the more active and
artsy, the better. If you enjoy painting or doing crafts,
make time for that too!
LIBRA (September 23–October 22): Home is where
your heart is all month. If you’re ready to redecorate,
renovate—or relocate—January presents some perfect
opportunities. You’re not generally rash, yet now is

Island Visitor Publishing, LLC

www.TheMariner.com

www.TheMariner.com

Just roll out of bed...your hair looks great!
Shampoo and towel dry.... and you’re done!
The style is in the cut, not the blow-dry, so you don’t
have to fuss with your hair to look good... even fine,
limp or curly hair... and my new steam color
process + Olaplex creates richer brunettes and
spectacular blondes. The colors go deeper
NEW LOCATION! and last longer, yet are far more gentle to the hair.
By Appointment Only with Ian:

Following are properties sold on Siesta Key in the last 60 days, providing a snapshot of home values on the Key for both single family homes and condominiums.

HIGHEST PRICED SINGLE FAMILY PROPERTY:
5121 HIDDEN HARBOR RD. SOLD FOR: $1,000,000
165’ on deep boating water in Hidden Harbor. This special
residence is perfectly positioned on .61 acres; protected Harbor, deep
water dockage and immediate Bay access. There is an aura of magic
here; your own private paradise. A fine example of mid-century
modern architecture, designed by Ralph Twitchell; a founder of the
Sarasota School of Modern Architecture, and a student of Mies van
der Rohe. Brought into the 21st century by the current owners, who
respected the value of the architecture. Welcoming guests at the
entrance: a zen-like courtyard w/ fountain. The living room features
vaulted ceiling, granite hearth wood-burning fireplace, and wall of
glass opening to the Florida room. The family chef will love the
custom kitchen: Miele oven, cooktop & hood, Bosch dishwasher,
Blanco sinks and faucets. The master wing is expansive and private:
a waterfront office/den, luxurious marble bath w/ Jacuzzi tub and
private outdoor shower patio. Separate 2/2 family-guest wing.
Expertly renovated features: chef’s kitchen, custom tile, wet-bar
w/ wine fridge, custom art lighting throughout, custom landscape
lighting and state-of-art video security, “Alarm.com” – the leader
in Smart Home Security. Large dock w/ power, water, boat lift
& marine workshop. 20KW Generator. Hurricane shutters. 2 car
garage. Hidden Harbor: a highly desired, very private community,
convenient to world famous Siesta Key Beach, the Village and both
bridges. The sale of this property came to $415.62 a square foot.
Courtesy of Michael Saunders.

LOWEST PRICED SINGLE-FAMILY
PROPERTY: 421 ISLAND CIR.: SOLD
FOR: $572,000
Siesta Key, single-family home located
on Palm Island, a short walk from Siesta
Beach and close to the Village. The
home is 2 bedroom/2 bath, plus office.
Large living room and master bedroom
overlooking a lagoon, spacious kitchen
with new fridge, screen porch, deck, and
2-car garage. Interior features include
fireplace, 10-foot ceilings, bamboo and tile
floors, and French doors overlooking deck
and lagoon. The home was built in 1999,
contains 1,445 square feet and is elevated to
meet flood zone requirements. Survey and
elevation certificate are available. Mature
landscaping surrounds the home for
added privacy. The sale of this property
came out to $407.61 a square foot.
Courtesy of UKeepCommission R E.

HIGHEST PRICED CONDO:
5880 MIDNIGHT PASS RD, #810: SOLD FOR: $800,000
Captivating views from your 8th floor private screened
lanai in a premier condominium community. As you enter the
7-acre Casarina property, a winding drive leads you to carefree
living with peace and privacy provided by luxurious tropical
landscaping. The lifestyle features lighted tennis/pickle ball
courts, large heated pool and spa, poolside cabana with gas
grills. Revel in the glow of breathtaking sunsets from the
private beach side Sunset Deck (OR your own private lanai).
One of, if not the largest, 2 BR floor plans on Siesta Key Beach
features a spacious gulf-side Master suite with sliding doors to
lanai, walk-in closet and large master bath. Upgrades include
Hurricane impact-glass windows and sliders, stainless steel
appliances, Plantation shutters, new AC and water heater.
Additional gulf views from kitchen, dining and living room
areas. Large interior utility/laundry room and lots of extra
closet spaces make this residence perfect for vacation or fulltime living. A deeded under building garage parking spot is
included with storage for your beach toys. On-site property
manager, maintenance team and association secretary. Take
the Breeze trolley to Siesta Village for dining and shopping. Or
by car, downtown dining, shopping and entertainment is only
15 minutes. Owners may have one small pet (up to 25 lbs.)The
sale on this unit came out to $524.81 a square foot.
Courtesy of Michael Saunders and Co.
LOWEST PRICED CONDO: 5855 MIDNIGHT
PASS RD, #224: SOLD FOR: $220,000
Have your own condominium on world famous
Siesta Key. Harbor Towers is a Bayfront complex with
lots of amenities such as fitness center, two heated
pools, tennis courts, very nice outdoor patio with
grills. Boat docks on the bay and just a short walk
across the street to the beach. 1 bedroom, 1 bath unit
in Harbor Towers with a carport on the 2nd floor with
view of the waterfall. Harbor Towers has a great on
site rental program. The sale came out to $332.76 a
square foot. Courtesy of Harry Robbins and Assoc.

www.siestasand.net

941.349.0194

JANUARY 2019

Island Visitor Publishing, LLC

Blooming This Month

Crown of Thorns
(Euphorbia milii)

31

remove and collect seeds. Drought
tolerance has made it a favorite
of landscapers and homeowners
wanting to conserve water. Salt
tolerance has made it a useful shrub
for landscapes near bodies of salt
water, as many Florida landscapes
are. When working with crown of
thorns you need to be reminded
to wear gloves. Not only are the
spines a menace to the ungloved
hand, but the plant produces a
poisonous milky sap that can
irritate the skin. If sap gets on your
hands, rinse it off immediately.
Submitted by CJ Danna, Sarasota
Garden Club.
www.sarasotagardenclub.org

The common names have
alluded that the crown of thorns
worn by Christ at the time of
his crucifixion was made from
stems of this plant. The stems of
this plant are pliable and can be
intertwined into a circle. A native
to Madagascar, and thought to
have been brought to the Middle
East before the time of Christ. It is
a woody, spiny, climbing succulent
shrub. This plant is suitable for
growing indoors. Allow cut surface
to callous over before planting.
Collect seeds when flowers fade.
Allow pods to dry on plants;

Full Gulf view of #1 Beach in the USA. Completely remodeled, priced to sell! High end tile floors in main living area, quality custom kitchen
cabinets, deisgner kitchen. Crescent Royale offers an onsite rental program, heated pool and much more!

499,900

$

Siesta Key, FL

Deeded beach access!! Your feet will be in the Gulf of Mexico in 60 seconds!!! This immaculate pool home features large rooms and
volume ceilings. Lovely oak floors and stylish tile will dazzle you. 3 BR, 3.5 BA along with the LL bonus area for generational living or
guests. Bonus area downstairs is perfect for storage, workout center, hobby room or workshop. Oversized garage for cars, boat, jet skis,
kayaks and/or bikes. Walking distance to local dining and a marina. Quality concrete block construction for peace of mind.

Siesta Key, FL

Beaches, Boating & Bistros!! Live the island lifestyle in this spacious 4 BR, 4 BA house located on desirable Palm Island, grossing approx.
$60k in rental income. Recently renovated with new kitchen, new master BR and master BA. New boat lift on the Grand Canal. Lounge in
the heated pool and spa or enjoy your favorite libation at your own private Waterfront Tiki Bar. Huge bonus area on lower level.

Island Chatter
As it turns out, that discussion
will not happen until early 2019.
First, Brown ended up retiring in
early October. The deputy director
of Parks, Recreation and Natural
Resources (PRNR), Nicole Rissler,
was named the new director a
few weeks ago. However, around
the time of Brown’s departure,
the commission directed staff to
finalize a “term sheet,” laying
out the guidelines for the lease
and/or sale of county property at
Benderson Park to Mote Marine
Laboratory for the site of its
planned $130-million Science
Education Aquarium. As County
Administrator Jonathan Lewis
characterized it, the board was
directing staff essentially to drop
everything else to make sure the
Mote deal was concluded before
the end of October.
Rissler was among county staff
most involved in that process, as
Lewis noted on Oct. 24.
Then, also in October, as the
board members were trying to
agree on a date for a continued
public hearing on the county’s
new Unified Development Code

(UDC), Lewis suggested that time
would be available on Nov. 27.
Staff tentatively had reserved the
afternoon session that day for the
paid beach parking workshop,
he said, but he indicated that he
would like for more research to be
conducted prior to that discussion.
As a result, he added, the parking
workshop could be held possibly
in January.
The commissioners agreed to
move the continued UDC hearing
to Nov. 27.
The UDC is a comprehensive
document that updates and
combines the county’s Land
Development Regulations and
the Zoning Regulations in an effort
to make them easier to access and
understand. The board approved
the changes on Nov. 27, but the
UDC was not going into effect until
Jan. 1, 2019.

Limited time to protest
As the county commissioners
on Dec. 12 opened their regular
meeting, they already were facing
a long day, as the public hearing
on Siesta Promenade was the lone
business item on the agenda.
Underscoring that expectation,
Chair Nancy Detert laughed at the
end of the hearing, marked at 6:25
p.m. She had won a bet, she said,
because the hearing was over by
6:30 p.m.
That morning, after the Pledge of
Allegiance, Detert announced that
she had a number of cards for the
Open to the Public session, during
which people typically address the
board on topics not on the agenda
or on discussion items, which
do not afford an opportunity for
public comments.
On Nov. 27, commissioners
engaged in a discussion about
the need to limit the time they
allow for Open to the Public,
especially when people sitting in
the audience have paid attorneys
and engineers, for example, to
appear for items those people were
told to expect around a certain time
in the morning or afternoon.
The board has been providing
an Open to the Public period at
the start of each morning and
afternoon session and at the end
of each meeting.
On the morning of Nov. 27, Siesta
resident Mike Cosentino and 14
of his supporters showed up for
Open to the Public to criticize the
board for not immediately having
implemented two County Charter
amendments Cosentino wrote,
which won voter approval on
Nov. 6. One amendment calls for
the reacquisition of a 373-foot-long
segment of North Beach Road that
the commission vacated in May
2016, at the request of three sets
of North Beach Road property
owners. The second amendment
forbids the board to vacate any
road segment that is on a body of
water or even has a “waterfront
vista.” The county has filed
motions in two related cases in the
12th Judicial Circuit Court, saying

the amendments contravene state
law and are unenforceable. The
presiding judge has not set a
hearing on either case since the
election.
As it turns out, Cosentino and
a group of supporters also had
signed up for Open to the Public
on Dec. 12, with the Commission
Chambers in downtown Sarasota
full of residents waiting to speak
on the Siesta Promenade proposal.
Before the meeting began,
Cosentino came into that room
with Reopen Beach Road signs
under one arm.
Detert announced that the board
would allow only 15 minutes for
public comments that morning.
Anyone who had signed up for
Open to the Public who was not
able to make remarks before that
time was up would have to wait
until the conclusion of the Siesta
Promenade hearing, she added.
Only two of the supporters of the
Cosentino Charter amendments
were able to address the board that
morning.
At the end of the Siesta
Promenade hearing, Detert did
ask whether anyone remained in
the audience who did not get to
speak during Open to the Public
that morning. No one responded.

Cosentino attorney
granted extension for
appeal brief
After 12th Judicial Circuit Court
Judge Frederick P. Mercurio
dismissed the last part of Mike
Cosentino’s complaint against
Sarasota County over the North
Beach Road vacation, on Sept. 11,
Cosentino appealed. That notice
formally was filed on Oct. 10
with the Second District Court of
Appeal in Lakeland.
Originally, all the materials
for that appeal were due to be
processed and forwarded by Nov.
29 to the Second District Court.
However, a Nov. 30 notification
in the Cosentino docket in the
Sarasota County Clerk of Court’s
records said, “To date, the Lower
Tribunal Clerk has not received
complete payment for this appeal
record or an Order designating
insolvency.” The notification
added, “Please advise on how to
proceed.” It was signed by Deputy
Clerk Barbara Torres, a member of
the staff of Sarasota County Clerk
of Court and County Comptroller
Karen Rushing.
Another document in the court
docket showed that Cosentino
needed to pay $5,614 to Rushing’s
office for the materials prepared
for the appeal record. That cost
sheet was filed on Nov. 8.
A related document in the case
file showed that Sarasota County
paid $3,562.50 for its materials for
the appeal record.
Subsequently, on Dec. 5,
Cosentino’s attorney, Lee R. Rohe
of Big Pine Key, asked for an
extension for the filing of his
brief in the appeal. On Dec. 7, the

Second District Court granted
that request, allowing for the
initial brief to be submitted by
Jan. 21, 2019. The order indicates
all the appeal materials must be
submitted by Jan. 29.
And in one other matter related
to Cosentino’s legal issues: The
other attorney who has worked on
his case, Elizabeth Gomez-Mayo,
filed a motion on Nov. 14, pointing
out that she no longer would be
representing Cosentino in that
action.
On Nov. 12, Cosentino filed
a Verified Client Stipulation To
Withdrawal of Counsel form,
which says he did “hereby agree,
stipulate, and consent” to GomezMayo’s withdrawal from the
case. The form makes it clear that
Rohe will continue to represent
Cosentino.

Coupons for food lovers
In this month’s edition discount
coupons are being offered by The
Oaks and Station 400. Station 400
is offering $5 off your next visit
and The Oaks is offering a FREE
appetizer with a $20 purchase.
Both ads are located on page 15.

City email focuses on
federal funding for Lido
project
Scanning recently through the
City of Sarasota email folder,
a message to City Engineer
Alexandrea DavisShaw from
Michael D. Willis, president of the
Color Nine Group in Silver Spring,
Md. Was found, which — its
mission statement says — “exists
to help individuals, organizations,
and governments achieve their
full potential by providing
developmental guidance and
funding solutions with passion
and expertise.”
With the subject line “RE: Army
Corps Work Plan FY19,” Willis’
Dec. 7 email said, “I just wanted
to tell you again great work on
the Lido Key Beach renourishment
project. “The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE) released its
annual Work Plan recently and
it included only two shoreline
projects and neither of them were
‘New Starts.’ That means Lido
is the only ‘New Start’ shoreline
project to be funded through the
Army Corps Work Plan since at
least 2014. Considering the delays
and lawsuits the project faced, it
is an impressive feat to have kept
this project on Corps HQ’s radar.
Your timely meetings with Corps
HQ, the Congressional Delegation,
and constant contact with the
USACE’s Jacksonville District
were instrumental in securing the
funding. Great work!”
On June 11, the USACE
announced it had included
$13,462,000 in its Fiscal Year 2018
Work Plan for the first segment of
a 50-year initiative to renourish a
critically eroded, 1.6-mile stretch
of South Lido Key Beach.
Continued on the next page

www.siestasand.net

941.349.0194

Island Chatter
Although an emergency
renourishment project is underway
on Lido, two Siesta Key-based
nonprofits have continued to take
legal action to try to prevent the
USACE from dredging about 1.3
million cubic yards of sand from
Big Sarasota Pass during the first
step of the long-term project.
Save Our Siesta Sand 2 (SOSS2)
is preparing to file a complaint
in U.S. District Court, and the
Siesta Key Association (SKA)
has a case underway in the 12th
Judicial Circuit Court in Sarasota.
Both organizations argue that
the USACE did not undertake
sufficiently in-depth analyses of
its project plans to ensure Siesta
Key would suffer no harm from
the dredging of the pass and the
ebb shoal in the pass.
The SKA is due back in court on
Dec. 20 to present arguments on its
latest motions in its case.
On Dec. 7, DavisShaw forwarded
Willis’ email to City Manager
Tom Barwin and copied the city
commissioners.
“Just to let you know, per Willis,
all those trips up really did pay
off,” she wrote.
“Great, great, great job!” Barwin
responded.
“Wonderful! Thanks all who
made this happen,” Mayor Liz
Alpert replied.

Siesta goes fully
for Maio
When Republican County
Commissioner Alan Maio of
Nokomis defeated Democrat
Wesley Beggs of Sarasota in the
Nov. 6 General Election, he took
53.89% of the 203,686 votes cast in
the race.
Maio represents District 4, which
encompasses Siesta Key.
Not all of the 213,220 voters
who participated in the General
Election marked a choice in that
race, according to the official
returns published by the Sarasota
County Supervisor of Elections
Office.
When we took the opportunity to
examine the precinct results in the
District 4 contest, we learned that
Maio defeated Beggs by a bigger
margin in Precinct 411, located
at St. Boniface Episcopal Church,
than he did in the overall statistics.
Maio won 54.69% of the 2,684 votes
cast at Precinct 411.

JANUARY 2019

Island Visitor Publishing, LLC

33

Continued from the previous page

Siesta Key Chapel was the site of
two precincts during the election.
In Precinct 401, Maio was the victor
with 59.21% of the 294 ballots cast;
in Precinct 403, he took 52.68% of
the 877 votes.
In Precinct 421, located at the Turtle
Beach Recreational Building, Maio
garnered 52.24% of the 961 votes.
However, just east of the Key, in
Precinct 413, located at Pine Shores
Presbyterian Church, Beggs won
51.46% of the 4,034 votes cast there.
That church is located in Pine
Shores Estates, and many of
the residents have been vocal
opponents of the proposed Siesta
Promenade project next to their
neighborhood.
Maio accepted many donations
from developers during his reelection campaign this year.

District 4
Voting Map

Letting the new
sergeant off easy
When Sgt. Paul Cernansky, the
new Sheriff’s Office substation
leader, appeared for the first time
on his own in front of a Siesta Key
Association (SKA) audience — on
Dec. 6 — he seemed poised for a
bombardment of questions.
Siesta Sand suspects that after
seeing Deputy Chris McGregor
field a number of questions during
the November SKA meeting,
Cernansky showed up this month
with the expectation that he, too,
would be spending more than a
couple of minutes at the front of
the room.
Cernansky opened his Dec. 6
remarks with, “No news is good
news,” in terms of the November
crime report.
Again — as has been the case
over the past several months —
burglaries of unlocked vehicles
were the primary focus, he said.
“We arrested several of the alleged
perpetrators and charged them.”
Cernansky encouraged all the
meeting attendees to keep their
vehicles locked.
Next, he said that both the Siesta
Key Crystal Classic International
Sand Sculpting Festival in
November and the Siesta Key
Seafood and Music Festival, held
the first weekend of December,
“were very successful events.”
Then he added, “That’s really all
I have. Things are nice and quiet.”
When he asked whether anyone

had questions, no one raised a
hand.
Secretary Joyce Kouba told the
audience, “You’re not going to let

him off that easy, are you?”
Perhaps people had issues
they would prefer to convey
to Cernansky privately, Vice

President Catherine Luckner
suggested.
Even then, no one raised a hand
or offered a comment.

Volunteer Holiday Party on Dec. 6 at Turtle’s Restaurant
The Chamber’s Annual Volunteer Holiday Party is a chance for us to celebrate
with and appreciate all the volunteers that run the Visitor Center and help out
at multiple Chamber events. Without them, we couldn’t do it! Also, thank you
Turtle’s Restaurant for hosting our party, providing delicious appetizers and
impeccable service. Lastly, thank you Mia Leone, Visitor Center and Volunteer
Coordinator, who put together this awesome party!

Member Holiday Dinner on Dec. 14 at Mattison’s Forty-One
Our Annual Member Holiday Dinner at Mattison’s
Forty-One was a great success! Thank you all for coming out to celebrate the
holidays with us. We appreciate the door prize and silent auction donations by the
following businesses: Mattison’s Forty-One, Van Wezel, Best Western Plus Siesta
Key Gateway, First Watch, Gecko’s, Kona Ice, McCurdy’s Comedy Theater,
The Observer and Village Cafe.

It will cover picnic tables and a patron area where
guests will be able to pick-up complimentary
environmentally-safe water, bicycles, beach towels,
masks and snorkels. And it will be the perfect gloomyday hang out, Holderness says.
All five buildings on the property underwent
exterior renovations with some interior updates,
and handicap-accessible pathways and ADA poolarea bathrooms were constructed. In addition, the
entire property was re-landscaped. Royal palms,
Sylvester palms, and coconut trees were planted.
“We wanted there to be shade everywhere you
walked,” Holderness says. Eco-friendly turf grass
replaced a strip of broken asphalt. Low-water use,
native landscaping was incorporated throughout the
property.
The new style at the resort can be described as
coastal modern with a Caribbean twist. The renovated
resort now boasts one of the largest pools on Siesta,
as well as one of the largest (if not the single-biggest)
chickee huts on the Key.
The mood around the property was enthusiastic.
“I’m so excited,” Holderness, who had been
overseeing major aspects of the renovation and
working 18 hour days to get the project completed,
told Siesta Sand during an interview at the end of
December.
Resort staff, including the housekeeping crew, were
also busy at work, along with various contractors.
“We’ve had up to 50 people here a day working on
the renovation,” Holderness says.
The resulting project brings “new life” into the
aging resort. “We’re bringing back the vibe of
yesterday for future families and couples to enjoy,”
says Holderness, who runs Beachside Management,
a rapidly growing management company based on
Siesta Key. The company’s holdings include Siesta
Key Beachside Villas, which Holderness renovated.

amazing pool and tiki is a hedge against windy beach
days,” Holderness says. “And the new pool makes it
more family friendly, easier on elderly and I’m proud
it’s now ADA friendly.”
Scaling back the plans had another benefit. The
changes allowed Holderness to keep his staff working.
“Instead of letting staff go, we scaled back some of
the work,” Holderness says.
He kept housekeepers on payroll and had them
do a good portion of the interior refreshes such as
painting and setting up new bedding during the
renovation. During a visit by a Siesta Sand reporter,
three housekeepers were buzzing around one unit,
finishing painting and setting up brand new furniture.
Although it might have cost less to hire a commercial
painter, Holderness found one unexpected result was
that the collaboration began to instill in his staff a
proud sense of ownership in the new resort — even
before it even opened. “They are nothing short of
inspiring,” Holderness says.
Even though structures on the property are
close to the end of economic
life, constructing a brand
new building(s) was not
“It’s important for me
economically feasible at the
to
do
my community proud.”
time, Holderness says, since
—
Mike Holderness
that would have decreased
the number of units down to
37, under the county’s current
zoning code — although oddly the code (written in
the 1970s) would allow up to 10 beds per resort unit.
But Holderness says the renovation project brings
the resort to the quality that will attract families, and
future improvements are possible. Mike’s family is
deeply rooted in the area, and he says a love of SRQ
is something instilled in him by his parents. “It’s
important for me to do my community proud,” he
says.

A vision, modified

Family-friendly and tropical

From the beginning, the vision for the renovation
project aimed to refine the resort, built in 1955, into
world-class accommodations — catering to families
and couples.
Along the way, however, some of the specific
design plans had to be modified, due to two factors.
The first factor was a combined complex county
permitting process and strict FEMA renovation rules
that limit the amount of structural work that could be
completed on coastal properties.
Secondly, this summer, just before renovation work
began, the then-lingering red tide bloom off the coast
slowed bookings at the resort.
Business was so slow that Holderness faced a
difficult choice. He closed the resort, and in order
to continue to pay his staff, went forward with the
scaled-back project.
Overall, while the project was scaled back in
some aspects, other areas received more attention.
For example, a planned in-house kitchen and new
balconies were scrapped from the plans, for now.
But Holderness and investors built a brand new
pool with beach-style, family-friendly 35-foot long
beach entry — instead of simply re-surfacing that
old rectangular pool as they originally planned. “The

“We want guests who will stay here and go into the
Village and eat at restaurants and contribute to the
local economy,” he says.
Holderness hopes guests will enjoy their stay so
much that they book a vacation at the resort for the
following year.
The resort, once known as a spring break haven, will
be family-friendly, tropical, and unique. “The target
market is families and couples of all ages,” Holderness
says.
From the courtyard under the chickee, guests will be
able to pick-up complimentary environmentally-safe
water, bicycles, beach towels, masks and snorkels, and
find complimentary paddleboards, kayaks and Hobie
Cats on the beach. Guests will be given bracelets, so
staff will be able to identify who is a guest before
giving them items for use. On a gloomy day, guests
can hang out under the chickee or sit poolside in the
large 12-person hot tub.
The pool has three heaters. And pool-side guests
will be able to pick up towels and water.
Holderness also envisions the possibility of small
wedding events at the large chickee. “But we want
to be a good neighbor,” he says. “We won’t have any
amplified sound here” at the resort.

Island Visitor Publishing, LLC

35

36

Siesta Sand

JANUARY 2019

941.349.0194

Classifieds / Here’s My Card
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

CONTRACTORS CONTINUED

www.siestasand.net

FITNESS

MD Fit

CHRONIC
JOINT
PAIN
&
INJURIES

comes to
you!

• Baths, Kitchens & More is a full service remodeling company
with over 85 years combined experience updating bathrooms,
House
kitchens and general remodeling projects. Remodeling projects
Calls
can become very overwhelming, we will listen to you, understand
Call
your vision, and design to fit your needs and budget. We will help
Flexible
Jared Caban
walk you thru the process from drawing 3D designs, selecting 941-313-0562
BS, NASM, MS
Hours
cabinets, countertops, tile down to the paint color all included FREE CONSULT
in our service to you. Jim has a great vision of what a space can
MDFitSarasota.rehab
jaredcabanMDFit@gmail.com
be, he has been on HGTV, the DIY network, and worked with TV
stars Mike Holmes and Chip Wade. Our newest showroom will
HOUSE WATCH
be located in the Stickney Point/Hwy. 41 area in Sarasota. For a
• TD Aerial Photography – Aerial photography and video free consultation please call 941-893-1717 to get “The look for less”
production for realtors, marketers, and business owners. Learn (state lic. CBC# 1262334)
more about high resolution drone photos and Ultra 4K drone
• Hawk’s Nest Construction Inc. is a certified Class A general
videos at tillerduncan.com or contact Tyler at 574.220.1231
contractor licensed in all phases of construction. Owner, Mark
ACCOMMODATIONS / VACATION RENTALS Hawkins Sr. personally oversees every aspect of your project from
start to finish, using only the best and most reliable licensed artisan
• Best Western Plus Siesta Key – AAA -3 Diamond Property,
and craftsmen. His passion is delighting his clients by turning their
Free shuttle service to and from Siesta Key 941-924-4900, 6600 S.
home-improvement dreams into a beautiful reality. Call 941-650Tamiami Trl., Sarasota
9499 or visit their website: www.hawksnestconstruction.com
Insured, Bonded and Licensed by The
• Siesta 4 Rent - Vacation Rentals, from studios to 5 bedrooms.
National Home Watch Association.
• Nutter Construction is your local Siesta Key builder. We have
Serving Siesta Key since 1997, 941-349-5500
(941) 961-4309
a strong team with over 30 years of combined high end residential
www.SuncoastHomeConcierge.com
BOATING RENTALS / FISHING CHARTERS construction experience in Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch. We
offer custom construction, remodeling services, management
and consulting, concierge service, and we are committed to
Licensed and Insured
protecting our resources by using construction techniques that
are environmentally friendly. Call us at 941-924-1868, visit our Affordable and Dependable Service Solutions For Your Home While You Are Away
showroom at 3534 South Osprey Avenue, or check us out online at
www.nutterconstruction.com. LEED AP | FL Licensed Building
Contractor CBC060004 | FL Licensed Real Estate Sales Associate
BK322256 | Certified Home Inspector HI4630

House Watch Sarasota

Having Fun
Fishing in The Sun

941-400-2452

Tony Fudoli Sr.
CAPTAIN
tntfreedomfishing@yahoo.com

R. BRuce Whittinghill, llc
(941) 955-1864

Call or e-mail
sarasotabruce1@housewatchsrq.com
housewatchsrq.com
for quotes and references
Serving SaraSota and Surrounding areaS Since 1979

Do As We Say, Not As We Do?
We’ve all seen the TV news reports showing neighborhood surveillance videos featuring
bands of ne’er-do-wells roaming streets late at night, checking for unlocked cars to burglarize.
The reports invariably include comments from a law enforcement spokesperson emphasizing
the importance of making sure citizens lock up their cars, day and night.
Well, Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Detective Brian Keane, an 18-year veteran of the
department and member of the SCSO SWAT team, must not have gotten the memo. Either that
or he’s under the impression he lives in Mayberry, NC and it’s 1962, not North Port, Florida,
circa 2018...
His vehicle was left unlocked in his driveway on the evening of December 5th with more
than just a cell phone, stereo system or some loose change inside to attract the attention of a
would be perp.
Rather, an Accuracy International AT308 sniper rifle valued at $4,000, a Sig Sauer P226
9mm handgun, body armor, a night scope and a Taser were among the grab bag of goodies
inside. And of course, all of those items were missing by the next morning.
Now that must have been a pleasant conversation with his supervisor when he reported
the theft the next day.
The guns and other equipment were thankfully recovered a short time later with the arrests
of two men: David Eugene Byrd Jr., 18, of North Port and James G. Tolbert Jr., also of North
Port and also 18.
So all’s well that ends well? Maybe, but this could have ended very badly. According to the
Herald Tribune, Byrd has been arrested five times previously on charges that include armed
robbery with a firearm, burglary and larceny.
No word as of press time on the results of any internal investigation or sanctions Keane may
face for neglecting a responsibility law enforcement regularly reminds us we should all live up
to: Locking our car doors. And we haven’t even touched on the subject of the responsibilities
that come with gun ownership.

Quote of the Day...

www.siestasand.net

“Those who ride the high road of humility in Washington, DC are never bothered by heavy traffic.”
-Former U.S. Senator Alan Simpson speaking at the funeral of President George H.W. Bush

Kicked to the Curb in Venice?
After a single car on East Venice Avenue struck four bicyclists earlier this fall – killing one
of them – it’s understandable that some area riders might have come to the conclusion they’d
be better off on the sidewalk.
But not so fast. At least in downtown Venice. The city recently passed an ordinance banning
bicycles on the sidewalks of some of the city’s busiest downtown thoroughfares...streets with

much more traffic than the stretch of East Venice Avenue where the recent cycling fatality
occurred.
...Leading some two-wheel enthusiasts to feel like they’ve been kicked to the curb...Or
perhaps left to spin their wheels at home on a stationery bike or at a spin class at the south
county YMCA, which come to think of it might not be a bad idea given Florida’s less than
stellar record when it comes to vehicles sharing the road with cyclists..

Often Wrong, but Never in Doubt
Back in 2008, while at a stop in Germany on his Chicken Little Eco-Calamity Tour, Al Gore
told his audience that the North Pole would be ice-free in five years. Here we are, TEN years
later and guess what? The North Pole has more ice than when he made that oh so certain
pronouncement.

The New China Syndrome?
A report linking the Chinese government to the recent hack of Marriott Hotels’ parent
company – Starwood Hotels and Resorts – is just the latest in a string of alleged cyber attacks
by the communist nation against US interests. The list includes the theft of government
personnel records from the US Office of Personnel Management, similar compromises of
customer account information at Insurance companies like Anthem and CareFirst and also
at telecom giant Verizon. All of which points to the striking conclusion by some analysts that
the Chinese military is trying to compile a personal and financial dossier on most if not all
citizens of the United States.
Why?
Well, just imagine what would happen if one morning we all awoke to discover our checking
accounts and 401Ks suddenly showed $0 balances. It would make the crash of 1929 look like
a relatively minor ‘market correction.’
Why isn’t Al Gore or just about anyone else in the government or media worried about
this?

The ‘Stoop-Surfer’ Sting
In Jersey City, NJ, local police are working with Amazon to nab porch pirates by sending
dummy packages that include tracking devices that help catch offenders, often within minutes
of their crime.
It’s reported one-in-twelve Americans have had a package stolen from their stoop. The
problem has grown along with the increased popularity of online shopping in recent years.

The Millennial Tax?

California legislators have come up with an innovative way to ‘enhance’ state revenue (i.e.
raise taxes). The latest brainstorm? Tax text messages.
No Joke.
Especially if you’ve got teenagers in the house.

Looking for Siesta Sand off-island?
Pick up a copy at the following
locations:

Q: What’s the most streamed song of the 20th century?
Q: Best selling album of 20th century?
Q: Highest grossing Broadway show of all time?

A: Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
A: The Eagles’ Greatest Hits with 38 million copies sold.
A: The Lion King: +$1.46 billion and counting. And you have a chance
to add to that total this spring when the show rolls into town at the Van Wezel,
March 14-16.

Published by Island Visitor Publishing, LLC
Contributing Writers and Photographers will be noted with bylines.
Guest commentary not necessarily the opinion of island Visitor Publishing, LLC
Reproduction without written permission prohibited. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement.
All business bios are extensions of the display advertisements.
Island Visitor Publishing, LLC is not responsible for claims made by advertisers.
All ads are subject to the approval of the publisher. It is the responsibility of the party placing any ad for publication in
Siesta Sand to meet all applicable legal requirements in connection with the ad such as compliance with town, county and
state codes in first obtaining an occupational license for business, permitted home occupation, or residential rental property.
DISCLAIMER: Please be aware that when you hire an unlicensed/uninsured person to do work at your home,
you accept the liability. Island Visitor Publishing is not responsible for claims made by advertisers.

If you would like to be considered for our next Island Girl, contact us at islandvp@verizon.net
(You must be at least 18 years old to participate)

941.349.0194

www.siestasand.net

She was born in Sarasota but has lived all over
Florida. Her favorite place is beautiful
Siesta Key beach and she will always call
Sarasota home. She loves Siesta for its unique
powdery-white soft sands and crystal clear,
turquoise water.
Even though she grew up on the beach
& near water, her heart still flutters every
time a dolphin or manatee makes
an appearance near the shore.
She is a new mom and entrepreneur.
She has a passion for capturing
dreamy light and those oh-so-simple,
romantic-in-the-normal-everyday-moments
as a wedding photographer. She pours her heart into
telling real-life love stories.
She absolutely loves being a
new mom and you can bet her
son loves the beach too!!
Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s already a little beach bum just like his mama!